Ive been studying the differences between our 1991 Lost Demos and Shooting Gallerys 1992 CD for several weeks, and Ive learned quite a bit from the side-by-side comparison. One of the most frequent criticisms of the Mercury CD is that it sounds like somethings missing, or that something just doesnt sound quite right. Ive figured out exactly what it is. Andy McCoy, in my opinion, is not only one of the ten best rock and roll guitarists of the last twenty-five years, hes also the most underrated. His signature strength is his raw musicality, his ability to improvise melodically and to adapt to the other musical voices around him. His playing has an immediacy and a pliancy, all while maintaining his clearly-recognizable style. Most notably, his melodic identity changes depending on which singer he plays with. He has a distinctive musical identity with Mike, a very different one with me, and another one altogether with Anita. This is the mark of greatness. On the demos, Andy and I fight and dance with each other, like musical kendo, using vocals and guitar as our shinai. I grab his guitar hook, he ducks my melody, transforms it, then throws it back, as I turn it inside out, and throw it back to him again. The voice and guitar talk, argue, whisper and flirt, complementing one another on every song. On the Mercury CD, our musical conversation is absent, it simply doesnt exist. Our producer, Ric Browde, either spitefully, or through sheer incompetence, cut the musical connection between Andys guitar and my singing. Andys guitar is left to talk with the bass and drums, while I am left sitting on a windy beach, sounding lost and alone. When the demos are released, people will be able to hear this for themselves. Its about time, too.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 19:51:09 +0000
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