First, I have to apologize to Bryan Master. I feel bad because I'm reviewing his CD the morning after I attended a GWAR concert, so my ears aren't exactly up to par today. Everything is very quiet. So I'm reviewing Master's new seven-song EP, Incommunicado, through ear canals full of GWAR sludge.
With that out of the way, Bryan Master is the exact opposite of GWAR. This one-man singer/songwriter plays every instrument under the sun: guitar, piano, drums, bass, vox, etc. As if his instrumental knowledge weren't enough, he also sings and writes all of his own material. He's kind of like the opposite of every pop singer douche out there today, in that he does everything rather than nothing.
And the proof is in the pudding. (Heh, heh. I've always wanted to write that. What does that even fucking mean?!?) And by "pudding", I mean these seven quiet songs.
"Heaven Only Knows" is a poppy guitar tune laced with maracas and bongos. "Find The Words" is a soft folk ballad that borders on country twang. And "Count To Ten" rolls along a haunting path lined with subtle strum work and minimal piano picking.
In all-- and even through muddied ears-- Incommunicado is a well thought out and wonderfully produced seven-song gem. As his name states, Bryan is a master of both writing and instruments, and Incommunicado is proof. |
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