TEE "The Earth Explorer"

TEE is a five piece flute front progressive rock band from Tokyo, Japan. Their so-called 'European' sound is unique considering their far-east origin. The imaginative tunes with complex ensembles and rhythms will definitely catch the attention of prog lovers all over the world. Their sound will remind you bands like Camel, King Crimson, Asia Minor or even Frank Zappa on some parts. The band was formed in 2004 when... more

Kevin BARTLETT

You may not know his name but you have definitely heard his music more than once or twice in your life. Maybe on HBO, or on MTV, or on VH1, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel. Doesn't ring the bell? How about American Idol Rewind, or Dr. 90210? We had interviewed Kevin Bartlett a couple of years ago when his second solo album GLOW IN THE DARK was released. Bartlett has been quiet since that time but but he has been secretly brewing new projects. A few months ago he had put a new song...more

Peter Hammill, founding member of Van Der Graaf Generator, released his 28th solo album " nearly 3 months ago. He recently got back home from a short tour covering North America, Canada and Italy. In the 70's when bands like...more

FRIGHT PIG Barque At The Lune *** REVERSAL OF GRAVITY Scuba Gear ***

DIMTHINGSHINEON

Diary of a Dying Man

With a MySpace page and a GeoCities website, I didn't come in to this CD expecting much. What came in the mail was an ink jet printed insert, printer paper folded lyric pages and a CD-R with ink inscription on the surface. Placing the disc in the player, it's instantly evident that the studio work was on a budget. The vocal makes it's appearance within seconds but you can even hear some distortion on the vocal mic. A look on the last page of the paper inserts informs that it's not merely a studio with a limited budget, it's actually "re-mastered" using a Wavelab Studio 6 software. Which wouldn't be a bad thing IF the budding engineer knew his craft. I really wanted to like this CD with the unique approach to the run on wording of "Dim Thing Shine On" as well, a glance at the lyrics intrigued me. However, the problems are a bit too glaring to overlook.

James Edward Garcia is Dimthingshineon. He's got a unique voice, a bit scratchy but full of character ala Bob Dylan or Nick Cave. The right person producing and adding the right effects in the studio might bring out something very special, but instead it appears James is self produced and didn't benefit from a third party producer that could've told him his pitch was off on "they don't hear your thoughts and they don't hear you speak" from the track titled "A Song". Unfortunately, the transition from clean channel guitar to a distorted chord in support of that lyric was also fumbled. Yet another blunder any experienced personnel would catch before it goes to print.

Alas, the whole CD is riddled with like problems and consequently distracts one from the qualities that could possibly "shine on". It's a shame too, because a stand alone reading of his lyrics reveals some gems like "drained of emotion, his black eyes tell bitter stories soaked in formaldehyde"; "In urine paths he leaves his mark" from the song "Man On The Corner". However, even closer inspection of the lyric sheets surfaces many misspelled words.

The song writing isn't bad. James has vision, but he lacks focus, and that manifests itself all the way from the CD packaging to the studio microphone placements. I would be on board to give his future projects another listen, but as it stands now, this dim thing will not shine on.

Dale JUDAY