A "cold call" review is of someone I have never met and never seen perform. Usually I also know absolutely nothing about them prior to reviewing them. This cold call artist I came across in a most unusual way. I had been investigating purchasing the Korg 1600MKII digital recorder and had learned through a discussion board, that an artist named Steve Robinson had recorded and produced his first CD exclusively using that machine. I purchased that CD, Away For The Day so I could hear the recording quality. Not only was the recording quality excellent but I thoroughly enjoyed his debut album. I also learned he was in a band with the legendary Roger McGuinn. That enough should be of interest to fans of folk-rock and 60's influenced rock. When I heard Robinson was coming out with a new CD, I purchased it. I was not disappointed. It is even better than his excellent debut. It is recorded using a full studio and is impeccably produced by Ed Woltil and Brian Merrill. For anyone who enjoys the solo work of George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney or enjoys that little band they were in, you should particularly appreciate this cd. Robinson was born and raised in England and sings with a delightful British accent that is slightly reminiscent of at least one or more of the Fab Four. His songs incorporate influences from at least three of them (sorry Ringo). I also hear a bit of Al Stewart, Michael Penn, mid period Bee Gees and ELO in his melodic and lyrical sensibilities. Still all his songs are completely fresh and original. The favorites are:
1) Wooden Hill- This lead-off track will be in your head for days. But it is more than just a tasty catchy piece of folk-rock. It has lyrics that are deeply moving, personal yet universal. It is a song of loss but with a deep sense of positive energy. Anyone who has ever lost a loved one can relate.
2) Love Is Real- This is a gorgeous song that evokes the Beatles in so many ways, yet has a completely original and complex melody. Like the Lennon tune of the same name, it is tender and meditative, but the slide electric guitar lead is pure George Harrison. This track could have sit comfortably on side one of Abbey Road or on Lennon's Imagine Album. This is a really beautiful song.
3) Boring God-This cool little tune is tucked away towards the end of the CD. It's psychedelic "sunshine drenchy" harmonies and interesting guitar make it Revolveresque. The lyrics seem to be about televangelicals.
4) Wasted and Waiting-Modern sounding AAA cut with a great riff that surprisingly morphs at the end of the track into a bunch of fiddles that play the same riff the electric guitars were previously playing. Brilliant arrangement.
5) The Best Days of Your Life- Very British sounding folk rock (or more likely rocky-folk). This one has a little McCartneyish whimsy. It appears to be about Robinson's childhood and the Boy Scouts.
6) Forget About Love- And now for something completely different. Sounds a bit like a song for Bonnie Raitt. This song should be sung from the perspective of a woman--probably a country singer. It could be a hit with the right female voice.
All the songs on this CD are good and there are lots of other memorable songs, including the mandolin enriched Please Emmalene and the Sting influenced Road To Ruin, but the first two songs I cite above are alone worth the price of the CD. Wooden Hill and Love Is Real are masterpieces. To hear them and the rest of this fine cd, go to