redbyrne

Ben Averch, "Washington State"

By Roger "Red" Byrne
Freelancers United, Inc.

Definitely among the year's most ambitious independent releases is this 10-track project from Ben Averch (http://averch.blogspot.com).

Drawing upon both the molten metal of early '90s grunge in Seattle and the futurist, high-I.Q. progressive rock of Rush and Yes, Averch raises the bar for today's modern rock bands. The only difference is that Averch doesn't have a group. Each note on "Washington State" was played by Averch himself. If you didn't know that, it's doubtful that you would've figured it out as Averch has exceptional skills.

Much has been written about Rush being a super-powered trio, but what can you say about a solo act such as Averch, who can minimize Pearl Jam's amp wallop on "Reset the Clock" without any additional player? Averch must be an octopus, each tentacle having mastered every instrument, from guitar to drums to Moog synthesizer to bass.

This is a truly impressive effort, produced with muscle and smarts.

Jeff Eaton, "Wish You Were Here"

By Roger "Red" Byrne
Freelancers United, Inc.

It may share the same title as a classic Pink Floyd LP, but don't expect Jeff Eaton's "Wish You Were Here" (http://www.jeffeaton-music.com) to be the work of depressed individual. Quite the contrary, actually. Eaton is one of the freshest voices in Americana, bringing an optimistic, thoughtful perspective to a genre saturated with burned-out alcoholics.

Unlike many of today's roots rockers, Eaton's view of the world isn't one of dust and despair. "Take Your Breath Away" is a gentle love song that is romantic as a tune can be without being too syrupy. But it's on the second cut, "Flood," where Eaton's shining talent bursts through. With its breezy guitar riffs and highly melodic vocals, "Flood" is a glimmering jewel of a song.

If "Flood" reminds you of the Bible, it's not a coincidence. A number of Eaton's tunes unveil his Christian beliefs but not in a blatant fashion. Eaton is more of a poet. On "Your Love," he describes God as "This consuming fire/Reaching down from above." How invigorating it is to hear classic rock with substance. If Eaton's sound is retro - think Bruce Springsteen (without the histrionics), Tom Petty, Bob Dylan - it's not that he's trying to. He is simply being himself, avoiding the gimmicks of modern rock for timeless appeal.

Burgess Shale, "No Rest for the Weary"

By Roger "Red" Byrne
Freelancers United, Inc.

Adopting a mysterious appellation, especially one with a utterly fascinating origin (look it up yourself), creates a promise of spine-tingling creativity. True enough, the San Francisco unit Burgess Shale (http://www.burgessshale.us) are clearly inspired.

This is art rock with a bubblegum twist as the pop dynamic between singers Heather Hopson and Brian Fraser give the music-theory arrangements an accessibility they otherwise wouldn't have gotten.

Not too long ago, you had to really know how to play instruments to be in a rock group, before everything took a backseat to the visual flash of MTV. The trio of Burgess Shale have impressive skills, carving their tunes into crazy shapes. They're an imaginative bunch, leaving me perplexed as to how to categorize their material.

For all of their musical wizardry, their songwriting is surprisingly grounded in everyday matters, making them appealing to the general public as well as to college professors. Also, if King Crimson had a female vox then they wouldn't have been far removed from Burgess Shale.