"Through the Wires," the first release by Ian Foster Band, is comprised of 12 songs (11 on the album, and fan favorite "Stop Bringin' Me Down" as a bonus track).

While most of them were conceived with just an acoustic guitar and the voice of the band's namesake, they have been developed into full band numbers on the album, complete with dynamic shifts, guitar solos, and full vocal harmonies, while still retaining the honesty and purity of the singer/songwriter style that Mr. Foster calls home. 

In the same respect as other singer/songwriter based bands Matthew Good Band and Dave Matthews Band (both of which have a prominent influence on the band's sound), Ian Foster Band has managed to develop a personality and sound as a group, without seeming like studio musicians that are simply supporting the primary songwriter for which the band is named.  The album maintains the solo acoustic backbone that Foster has established, but the other band members (Allan Locke on bass and backing vocals, Kurt Moyst on lead guitar, and Derm Carberry on drums) all have standout performances throughout the album.  This is heard on tunes such as the dark rocker "Urban Sprawl" and the riff-laden opener, "Consistency of Sound". 

Although it's not a full-blown concept album, Foster's affinity for literature and theme development is apparent throughout the disc, as the idea of distance and separation creates the foundation for several of the songs.  "Thousand Telephones" is a fond reflection on a relationship doomed by distance, while the catchy strum-along "Frames" is a commentary on the separation from reality that occurs when viewing the current world through media and technology, as opposed to experience. 

Foster shows a distinct level of maturity as he uses his songs to affect change and provoke thought, which is epitomized in the song "Troubadours," an open invitation for a generation of people who separate themselves from responsibility to stand up and make a difference.  With the exception of the bonus track, the album closes with a reflective piano and voice song called "This Silence," in which Foster sings the words "Can you hear me?" with a distinct sense of longing and passion.  After three years of successful shows on the local scene and a healthy buzz surrounding this debut CD, it seems that people are ready to listen.
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Through the Wires was released last fall and is one of the most satisfying albums I have ever listened to. This is multi-layered music with lyrics that give you much to think about, delivered in Ian’s warm, rich voice.

My only complaint is that I have trouble doing anything else while listening to Ian’s work. It is so compelling that I have to either listen to it in small doses or plan to just sit and listen. Each song seems to be capturing the vital elements of a great big story, and my mind reels while I’m listening as I try to imagine the whole thing from the pieces he has provided.

It may just be a writerly eccentricity on my part, but, in addition to getting music stuck in my head, I often get well-written phrases lodged in there too and I have trouble shaking them until I’ve sorted their meaning. Ian’s songs are full of interesting language and I find myself wondering exactly what prompted the lyrics ‘The intersection is where it falls apart, The problem is always where we meet’ or trying to figure out exactly how to find ‘the songs that can pay for our sins’.
If you like your music to have meaning, and to be more than just a good beat, pick up Ian Foster's Through the Wires.
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I've mused before about the renaissance that seems to be happening in the music scene in St. John's but I'm about to toss that theory out altogether. What's happening in St. John's is no revisitation of a previous heyday -- it's simply never been this good before. I point to the debut release of the Ian Foster Band to support my case. Through The Wires has compelling melodies, intelligent lyrics and a sincere, to the point delivery that's destined to win fans. The group has a number of songs available to hear and download from myspace and their own site. Not to be missed is Thousand Telephones, from which the album's title is drawn. It's a tale of failed romance with a catchy chorus that can't help but suggest it may be better to have loved, lost and written a song than ever to have sung a love song at all. It's worth checking out.
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