"Unsung"
In the liner notes, it's explained that Robbie had been recording different acoustic pieces without serious consideration for releasing them. After some coaxing, "Unsung" shows off his incredible talent. The cd starts off with "Strange Attractor". I could almost say that this song sounds like a practice piece that he would use in warming up his fingers for some serious finger-style playing. Not really a "song", but a ditty that jumps up and down the guitar frets in alarming speed. After a minute of this, it's a good teaser for the great music that is yet to come! "Thanks Chet" is a lazy honky-tonk style song dedicated to the master: Chet Atkins. This isn't the first time this song has surfaced. It can also be found on McCartney's "Paul is Live" cd from 1994. It was performed live on tour as "Robbie's Bit". This Atkins style of play can also be heard on the up-beat "Green Tom". Robbie is great at keeping a fluid bass beat with his thumb while playing the melody the rest of his fingers. "Gone Dancing" and "Untitled Air" are bright classical tunes which make for a nice variation from the rest of the cd. "Unsung" doesn't just feature solo acoustic guitar. Robbie adds some nice electric lead on "Path" and some groovy percussion and bass on "Magic Trainers", which is my favorite song on the cd. The song is kind of a cross between blue-grass and blues which is actually a nice little dance tune. You can't help but find your leg tapping while listening to this! The cool thing about this song is that the acoustic guitar is still the "lead" instrument that keeps the funky groove going. More surprises appear on "Chalk and Cheese". It's a nice "lullaby" song that also features Cello played by Chas Dickie. Robbie shows off his vocal talents on the bluesy "Sitting on Top of the World". His voice is soulful and fits in perfectly for a blues number like this. A harmonica wails in the background while Robbie picks some perfect blues notes.
With a generous amount of tracks on this cd, 19 total, it's fun to hear the diversity of playing styles throughout. If you enjoy instrumental guitar music, this is a near perfect cd for this. Every track is a treasure, and I'm sure that I'll be listening to this release for years to come! I also had the chance to meet Robbie McIntosh at Beatlefest in Chicago this past August. He's a very personable and funny guy, which makes listening to his music very special to me.
