They DO Still Write Good Songs
author: J. Stevenson Dell
Okay, my musical mother's milk was CSNY, Dylan, Sly ... and like many listeners of my vintage, especially parents, the refrain is, "Why don't they write good songs anymore?" Like, with good lyrics and memorable melodies? Well they do. Phantom City is well worth checking out. The lyrics are both intelligent and intelligible, and some of the melodies are really "sticky" (in a good way). My fave is "Free Your Mind," a love letter to free-spiritedness that evokes for me great celebration songs like "I Just Want To Celebrate" (Rare Earth), "Central Park" (Les Dudek - y'aint heard of it!), and any number of Sly songs. "That Special Kiss" is a nice emotionally vulnerable song about the open heart, and "protest" songs "Lessons Of War" and "Travesty Of Justice" are righteous without rage; I think Bruce Cockburn would dig them. The cover art is rainbow colored, which is fitting, since the band's overall sound is a nice rainbow of Lifesaver tonalities. The Doobies come to mind, along with my bff's, Crosby, Stills & Nash. Worth a listen!
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nice job!
author: jean mann
This is a stellar effort by Steven Kasmar. Lots of cool textures and tones. Cool compositions, that leave you humming along on first listen, and long after the tune is a breath on the air. Nice!
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