Bud's music is awesome - haunting, thought-provoking, fun, nostalgic, emotional, it runs the entire gamut.  I love his instrumentation, both the older acoustic pieces as well as the newer songs that include electric guitar, and his voice just makes you want to hear more. I initially thought that the more bluesy sound was my favorite, and it may still be, but I honestly really like everything he's done because it is so sincere and because you can feel his passion for music... and because it's so clear that Bud is being himself through his amazing music.
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In Denial, is an aurally pleasing six-song EP from singer/songwriter, Bud Buckley. Rather than drawing from cookie-cutter influences or bubble-gum modern day music, Buckley's music consists of thought-provoking lyrics and meaningful songs. What makes In Denial stand out is the substance behind it. Buckley guides each track in its own direction, with his own personal instincts and musical influences.  In a time where musicians are prone to paying off writers to write their lyrics, Buckley does things the right way by performing and writing all of his music. Buckley is a class act who holds a voice of reason and has substantial music.   The EP kicks off with the bluesy track titled "Had To Pretend". Buckley's voice is powerful and emotional, accompanied with guitar undertones. One of the best aspects is the screaming electric guitar, wailing away in perfection. In the rhythm section, everything is tight and compacted, providing the perfect instrumentation. The combination of the strong guitar work, rocking drums, and Buckley's passionate vocals, provides the perfect song to kick off In Denial.   "I Need" follows with drums that are lighter this time around, but still provide the right combination of fills and time-keeping to keep one's heading nodding along. The guitar work is lighter too, with no dark undertones, but is still great. This laid-back, bluesy love song lightens the mood surrounding In Denial in the best way. Rather than subjecting himself to the technological enhancements provided by today's music industry - such as synthesizers and Auto-Tune, Buckley stays true to musicianship and real instrumentation. He even contributes some interesting elements to the song, such as the addition of organ work.   Buckley keeps the laid-back atmosphere going with the track, "It's Been Fun". A cymbal groove sets the pace, accompanied with the light strumming of the acoustic guitar.  Buckley guides listeners through the duration of this love song, with his heartfelt lyrics and beautiful instrumentation. Buckley sings from the heart and there's nothing more you could ask of from an artist.   Though the EP concludes after four songs, two bonus tracks finish off the EP's bonus version: "A Way" and "Keeping Secrets". These two tracks had originally been on earlier releases from Buckley. With "A Way", the layering of guitar undertones drives the track full force, along with the backing of the drums. On the contrary, "Keeping Secrets" is moving and grooving throughout, as it even draws from a light Latin influence. The drummer sets the pace with an array of fills and intriguing grooves. Light orchestral-based elements accompany the heavy, grooving drumming, which provides the perfect combination that really sets this track apart from the rest. "Keeping Secrets" is the perfect way to conclude the EP: you'll be left standing up and dancing to the beat and that's a guarantee.  
Bud Buckley isn't just another artist seeking fame, fortune, or glamour. On the contrary, Buckley speaks from the soul and performs from the heart. His music is honest and real and there is nothing fabricated about that.  From one track to another, the listener is never bored. Buckley's work is sincere and passionate and what should be played on the radio these days. Artists should take a pointer or two from Buckley, because he's doing everything right. His arrangements are mature and prove his experience in the music industry. Buckley is exactly what the music industry needs right now.   If you're looking for music with substance that your ears will be thanking you for, then In Denial is the EP for you.
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If ever there was an EP to display the true talent of an artist, this would be the one. On In Denial, Buckley mixes the sounds of multiple artists such as John Mayer, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel and the like to create his own original sound – a sound that complements his voice along with his eclectic style of music. Each of his songs is comprised of either an acoustic guitar, an electric, or a combination of the two, but he also employs a number of artists to contribute other instruments such as a violin, drums, bass, keys on the EP.
Buckley’s blues-infused guitar style and raspy rocker voice makes “Had To Pretend” one of the best songs on the EP. Emotion pours out of his voice in a way that makes the song even that much more captivating. Throughout the song, Buckley lists all of the things that he has had to pretend not to do (“I had to pretend when you walked away I didn’t want to scream your name out loud . . . I had to pretend that I didn’t live to see your smile.”) He hopes that their relationship evolves into something where he doesn’t have to pretend anymore.  At the end, Buckley creatively changes the last chorus to say that they have finally made it to that point where he doesn’t have to pretend any longer.
“I Need” is a beautifully constructed song both melodically and lyrically. Buckley combines a more country guitar tone with detailed, innovative lyrics that tell of his need for a certain woman in his life.  The personal feel of the song is what makes it so easy to relate to, because we all have someone that we care as deeply for as the feelings he portrays in his song say for his own life.
The bonus tracks, songs 5 and 6 on In Denial, were featured previously on two of Buckley’s earlier releases; “A Way” was released in 2009 on Sitting On The Wind and “Keeping Secrets” on It’s About Time in 2007. In “A Way,” Buckley utilizes a simple melody that doesn’t draw too much attention to itself or take away from the rest of the song in order to emphasize the impact of his lyrics.  The song’s mellow music will take you out of the worry of your everyday life and transport you to somewhere far more serene.  Buckley, however, offers a subject for you to think about within each of his songs, and “A Way,” for instance suggests that we all need to take responsibility for our actions and to make a change today instead of waiting for a later opportunity. “Keeping Secrets” is another song about the troubles of a relationship. Buckley remains within his same general genre but creatively adds Spanish guitar sounds and solos instead. He talks of a specific day they spent skipping rocks by the lake and sings, “I love you too much to admit we’re through,” an honest confession that is likely to tug at your own heart strings.  
Buckley tells an intimate story within each of the songs on In Denial.  His subjects revolve around love, relationships, and everyday problems; he presents them with such honesty that it is very easy to connect to them in some way or another.  And since you can’t exactly enclose his sound within a certain genre, country, rock, and blues listeners alike will all easily be able to find something that suits them on In Denial.
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In Denial, a four-song EP with two additional bonus tracks, is the latest release from singer-songwriter Bud Buckley.  Drawing influences from the likes of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, Buckley lets his influences breathe through his music while he steers each track into new directions by injecting his own personal touches as well as those of the world-class musicians that he has assembled together for this engaging project. 

Kicking off the EP with the dark, bluesy rocker “Had to Pretend,” Buckley showcases his emotional side, as well as brings to light the strong guitar work of Steve Siktberg.  The combination of growling guitar tone, low vocals and the bass and drums locking in together produces a song that is both dark and moody, but that will get toes tapping and heads bobbing at the same time.  There is also some very fine organ work by Ross Rice, who duals with Siktberg in the song’s middle section, driving the energy and raising the band’s interaction and creativity to the next level of intensity. 

Moving into more of a rock feel, complete with acoustic guitar and a softer guitar tone on the lead lines, Buckley lightens the mood with the second track “I Need.”  Though there are some harmonic and melodic moments that return to the darker tone of the first track, the overall vibe is lighter, shining a light on another side of the songwriter’s artistic output.  By using emotional contrast between the tracks, not just here but in others on the album as well, Buckley is thinking of the larger picture, being concerned with the overall programming of the album and not just the individual tracks.  This is one of the reasons that this album is so successful and why it feels for like a cohesive musical output rather than just a collection of individual tracks. 

The third song, “It’s Been Fun,” has a bit of a Paul Simon, after Simon and Garfunkel, vibe to it, at least in the vocals and the chorus harmony.  Again, this track showcases the diverse background of Buckley’s influences from which the singer draws in his writing and performance.  The EP concludes with a slower track that is permeated with a cymbal groove that keeps the time moving forward.  Going with a cleaner sound, the guitars law down an harmonic pad that Buckley floats his lyrics over as he takes the listener through each verse and chorus throughout the length of the track. 

Though the EP ends here, there are two bonus tracks that have been included in this release, “A Way” and “Keeping Secrets.”  The first is an acoustic based track that features some very haunting guitar work and a lovely bassline that really pulls the track together, lifting it to become one of the best on the release.  The latter is based on a driving rhythm that will bring to mind Bob Dylan’s early electric work, in both the music and vocals.  Both songs are welcome additions to the EP and fit right in with the overall mood of the release, as opposed to being tacked on as an afterthought. 

Overall, In Denial is a strong album full of well-written songs performed at the highest level.  Though some of the moods tend to be similar, there is enough diversity to keep things interesting and move the music along from one track to the next.  With such a creative and engaging EP on the shelves, listeners are left waiting for Buckley’s next full-length release to hit the airwaves and store shelves worldwide.
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