Artist: Alan Pollard

Title: See It For What It Is (CD) / Things I May Be Missing Video (DVD)

Genre: Folk-Rock

Label: Peachfuzz Records-http://www.peachfuzzrecords.com

Website: http://www.alanpollard.com

Alan Pollard likes to See It For What It Is. I am talking about his world, our world, life on life’s terms. He makes it all quite clear in his music that he wants to get right to the important aspects of each story without pulling any punches.

With impassioned vocals, effective strumming well played acoustic guitar, and lyrics that are clearly understandable, Pollard makes his way through 10 solid tracks. This is folk rock with guts, yet it features many moments of tenderness straight from the heart of the artist. I know after listening to this CD a few times that Pollard is sincere in every song.

He gets a little help from his friends on this recording, Bon Lozaga, an excellent guitar player, sits in on the sessions while Peter Donnelly (bass), Matt Muir (drums), and Todd Barneson (harmonies) are exemplarily in helping to make this project reach its full potential.

This music is very simplistic and down to earth, and I like that. There is a time and place for everything as they say, and at times I need something vociferous and complex for my ears, however I cannot think of a time that would be inappropriate to listen to this radiant music.

My favorite track is “Attrition Of My Soul,” it totally rocks with a stinging electric guitar laced between the acoustic and Pollard’s timely vocals. I had a bonus in this package besides the music; I received a DVD from Alan with a track called “Things I May Be Missing.” There are visuals in the video that will grab you and make reevaluate your life if you are married with children. Without going into detail, the message is-appreciate and love those in your life every day because you never know what tomorrow will bring. Look around at our world right now, between wars on three different fronts, tsunamis, earthquakes, and hurricanes, it may seem like the end is near, but then again it may be our last wake up call. In essence, that is what Alan Pollard’s music and video are about, life, love and the pursuit of happiness, after all, what else is there besides the pure joy of music?

© Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

October 27, 2005

Rating-7.5/10

Credits:

Alan Pollard-Vocals, guitar

Bon Lozaga-Guitar

Peter Donnelly-Bass, producer

Matt Muir-Drums

Todd Barneson-Harmonies, guitar

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Artist: Susaye Greene

Title: Brave New Shoes

Genre: R & B-Pop-Rap

Label: Dollface Records

Website: http://supremextreme.com

Susaye Greene puts on her Brave New Shoes and kicks her heels up on a wild new album. That is the best way to describe this CD, its just wild. What you receive while listening are 17 tracks of Pop, R & B, Funk, Rap, Rock…well lets just narrow down to nearly every type of music imaginable, which would give a clearer picture of what is going on here.

Greene has quite a resume; her credits include performing and writing songs with Stevie Wonder, and a stint in The Supremes to name a few of her accomplishments. By the sounds of this album, it certainly looks as though the relationships she developed over the years have not hurt her one bit.

What surprised me was how much I enjoyed the rap and the way Susaye would answer the phrasing of her male counterparts in songs with her talented vocal chords. She can get very high, I mean piercing high, and then in same breath, tone it down and get silky satin sexy in a funky NYC way. It all has an edge to it, which is a together street-smart sound with just enough pop sprinkled around to make it all palatable. The rap is not x-rated; it is intelligible with a groove. The one song that caught me totally off guard was Led Zeppelin’s “The Ocean.” When I heard the opening riffs I figured she was just sampling it and then I would hear something similar to the previous tracks, well it did not happen. She covers the song and does a decent job with it; actually, it was pretty cool to hear a female singing it. The guitar playing was adequate to establish that Greene and her band were giving it their best shot.

This album is full of surprises, some weird sounds, and effects-It is not your average record that makes it into the Top 40 or something you would hear coming from the Motown label. This is independent music, and it is all about stretching out and taking chances. There are not many artists that would be brave enough to wear the shoes of Susaye Greene, that is for sure. I applaud her for her originality, spirit, and eclectic approach to her music. This is a bite of the big apple and it tastes oh so sweet.

© Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

Rating-8/10