Dave Rave, throughout his many years of performing and recording, has established himself as a master of versatility. This CD certainly captures that essence, but whether it�s a good thing to throw it all on one disc, I�ll leave up to the individual listener to decide. As a musical portfolio, Everyday Magic amply demonstrates that he �can do anything you like�, as The Monks once sang. I have not yet heard Valentino�s Pirates, originally released on cassette and vinyl (both of which are no doubt collectors� items now), or the re-release on compact disc
Although he pretty well restricts himself to the rock genre, apart from one r & b track, �Don�t Know What To Do� (the most memorable one on the CD), and a couple of classic oddities closing it off, he varies the tempo and rhythm enough from one track to the next to sustain mainstream interest. Co-writers of these compositions include Lauren Agnelli, Jason Frederick, Kate Schrock, Glen Marshall and Chris Stopa.
Generally speaking, the production (by Glenn Marshall) has a '60s �grooviness� to it (along the lines of The Hollies) but includes softer rhythmic passages more reminiscent of the Beatles and Oasis, especially on �Trace of the Human Race� and �Once in a Lifetime�. Bouncy psychedelic- rock, with an occasionally overly-insistent drumbeat (e.g. on �Madeleine Says�) is sandwiched between mild electronica (�Jennifer Cries�) and a sweet ballad (�Coda�). Ending the CD are the dramatically snail-paced, piano-dominated �How Can I Stop� and the orchestral instrumental, �Gone Again�, both of which are probably too sophisticated and intense for the average pop music fan.
The really fun track is �Help Me Please�, an evangelistic, foot-stompin� rockabilly tune that harkens back to Dave�s heyday with Hamilton�s The Shakers and Teenage Head. Members from both of those bands (e.g. Bucky Buchanan and Gord Lewis) perform on this CD, along with a host of other accomplished players. The manic strumming of the initial guitar break is a bit wonky in its sloppiness, but it�s kind of cool at the same time. Not just anyone could get away with that.
The only hard-rockin� tune, and a great one at that, is �Love Fades�. I hear some Junkhouse/ Headstones influence in that one. It would have been better placed as the closing track, just to remind us that he is, first and foremost, a shit-kicking rocker.
To M�Lou Music chronicles the continuing saga of the Dave Rave conspiracy to rock the world. |
