Terry's Reviews
Page
|
||
| Movies | Music | Books |
Music Reviews: |
||
 |
Stimulator Stimulatorband.com - 2004 |
|
| You want to have fun? I’m talking about
jolting yourself out of the doldrums normal life can give and taking yourself away to an
exciting place. I feel that kind of metaphysical transportation every time I play this
joyous CD. Susan Hyatt is absolutely dynamite on vocals. This woman can rock with the best of them. Maybe even more impressive is her ability to write songs. Susan was the lead singer/songwriter from the Pop/Grunge band Pillbox. As a songwriter she’s remarkably had over 25 songs licensed to TV shows and films. She’s been a television presenter, DJ and journalist. With a background like that it’s no wonder this girl is so dynamic. Geoff Tyson is like a chameleon. He played some of the most innovative hard rock/metal guitar riffs on the T-RIDE album then he completely switches gears to this band. This guy is honestly one of the most gifted guitar players I’ve ever seen or heard. Yet, he’s never received massive acclaim and you probably wouldn’t even know it by hearing T-RIDE, SNAKE RIVER CONSPIRACY or this album. What Geoff does is elusive and unique and all you folks should take notice. On STIMULATOR Geoff shows off his enormous chops as a Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, Engineer, Mixer and Songwriter. Hyatt and Tyson throw eleven tracks out with hook lines that are sure to snag up huge audience. "78 Stimulator" feels retro but has the panache of today’s recording/mixing. The chorus in "Feelin’ Alright" could only come from a mastermind(s). That little keyboard-voice double effect in "Let’s Hook Up" is super cool. In this third song Tyson gives us a little of his guitar brilliance. The interplay between guitar and keyboard rhythm in "How Far Would You Go? (Die For Me)" had me grooving. I also loved Hyatt’s multi-layered vocals. The cinematic guitar sound of "On Top of the World" is a mix of a dreamlike riff and heavy chords. Less is more in "New Vampire." The key parts in "In My System" are saucy with funk. Geoff delivers beautiful guitar part mid-way through. I was a surprised to hear Olivia Newton John’s "Magic" remade but Stimulator does it justice. "Complicated Girl" should be in film also. I could picture it some cute, big-budget studio film. Things get a bit heavier in "Just Like A Girl" and Hyatt rocks with Tyson. "Beautiful Muse" shows a darker, no less impressive side of the band. The music and words are so eloquently and creatively put together on STIMULATOR that they absorb right into you. It takes no effort to like this album, it will just happen. It’s almost as though these two were throwing a party and we’ve all been invited. |
||