Terry Penney - The Struggle (2004)
If you ask anyone involved in the Music industry in Newfoundland, they will tell you, "It is a Struggle". Making it work as a musician in Newfoundland can be compared to a war, where each show is a minor skirmish, each album a major battle, and success is the prize. Terry Penney is caught in this struggle, which ironically is recognized... even celebrated, in the name of his latest CD.
Like his previous two albums, "The Struggle" is a collection of songs that display Terry's obvious talent as a singer/songwriter, but is also the next logical step in his evolution as an artist. A much more up tempo effort than his last album (Missing Marshville), this album rocks out from the get go, and dispels any misconceptions about Terry Penney as strictly a 'Country' Artist!
It is nice to see Penney expand his horizons, but don't get me wrong! This CD is not going to change the world, re-write history or commit to any of the unreasonable promises that mass marketing tries to saddle music with these days.
"The Struggle" is not one of the jewels in Terry Penney's crown, I think is it the Crown itself! A good old Rock~n~roll crown, that can be worn by the listener, just like the heart on your sleeve or the smile on your face.
The jewel set in this rock crown is the ninth track, "My Eye's Are Dry". A chilling tale inspired by the disturbing event's of Timothy McVey�s execution for his part in the Oklahoma City Bombing. This song has a haunting power about it, and is a chilling reminder that evil and mortality are often linked within a society at odds with itself.
In a seemingly endless sea of overbearing pop icon's, this album is a breath of fresh air, in an industry that can often be pretty stale. It's that comfortable feeling you get in the presence of an old friend. It's dancing with the prettiest girl at the ball. It's a warm smile on a cold day... or a cold drink on a hot day... take your pick.
"The Struggle" solidifies Terry Penney as one of Newfoundland's brightest young talents, and brings him one step closer to winning the war.
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