Album Notes

Singer/songwriter John Thayer’s album “Ideology” (2011 EON Records) is appropriately titled and properly executed. A full course meal, the record is a blend of political and social views peppered with insight on love. Thayer‘s sonic vocals with driving undertones grip the listener for an emotional journey through hope, humanity and life’s lessons and losses.

The album launches with “Shadows Behind,” a pop-rock explosion about fresh starts, moving on and becoming empowered – and that it’s okay to feel good about it. The album twists and turns through tracks such as “Hypocrisy,” which offers insight into egocentric political leaders, to “Somebody Waiting For You,” a ballad about finding someone to mend your heart. Stop smiling. “I’m Losing You” labels this lover as a black cat running through his nerves whose rose-colored glasses hide lies. Thayer speaks as a close friend, offering some occasional tough love. “Redemption” serves as a safety net to one’s problems. No one is really ever alone, or are we?

Before ending the album, Thayer’s poses: “Did we turn our back on the human race?” almost as a recap to these lessons learned through the album’s lyrics. “You make it easy to just walk away,” he says on “Walk Away,” and then tells the listener what they’ll be missing. A natural ending, “Only Time Will Heal” confirms the age-old adage that experiences only make one stronger, absence makes the heart grow fonder and sometimes pouring out your inner emotions over both blazing guitar rifts and soft piano can heal many souls – or just distract them for a while.

As a follow up to Thayer’s first release “Letting Go” (2000, EON Records), “Ideology” proves that Thayer has done just that and started a new musical chapter – with a bit more bite but whose pop-inflicted melodies still go down smooth. “Ideology” is about a fresh start, right here, right now.

A Portland, Oregon native, Thayer owns and operates EON records with his brother Tommy, lead-guitarist of KISS. If you like The Beatles, Coldplay, Lifehouse, Keane and The Dan Reed Network, you’ll love John Thayer.