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I gave in to preconception before I set about to
listen to this new Wesley record, first thoughts turning to something tilted
toward Progressive Rock, the cover image, a face, part human, part
Devil it seems, and so naturally we're looking at a bit of intensity
once the curtain rises… Not so in either case. In fact I was put off
momentarily from the opening strum of the acoustic and "Chasing
Monsters" rather passive nature, not quite as compelling as I expected.
And so
much for my cerebral misgivings, what we've got here is some pretty
skilled AOR type music, in fact thoughtful if not in a technically
complex manner, there's a grown up seriousness and at home in the heartland
design that, like a good Southern whiskey, goes through an appropriate
mellowing phase. And that's what appears to me with "Chasing
Monsters." The end result may be of one man's sentimental carryover from a more
mischievous or maybe restless youth.
So we've got a number of
acoustically drawn songs, clean-cut and honest, conservative in most cases yet
occasionally only a kick pedal or two away from uneasiness. Wesley at
times rides along a Folk-inspired path (like Dylan) and more commonly
indulges in a friendly sing-along style that contemporarily draws out
late model Goo Goo Dolls without necessarily the hit-making intention, but
more than one occasion and probably more accurate in all, a calming and
eclectic exchange that suggests more than a few of us listened when
Paul Westerberg flew solo.
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| Artist |
John Wesley |
| Title |
Chasing Monsters |
| Label |
Dream
Catcher |
| Reviewer |
Vinnie
Apicella |
| Rating |
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| win stuff |
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