Post by jptheprofessor on Jul 2, 2006 21:03:03 GMT -5
THE ILLUMINATI – LOVE AND WAR (no label) Since their formation in 2001, Harrisburg’s The Illuminati have prided themselves on being musical chameleons who don’t allow their sound to be pigeonholed into a singular style. On the group’s first full length album, Love And War, The Illuminati’s eclectic and diverse sound fully spreads its wings over a baker’s dozen tracks. Listeners will hear the group tap into influences from Pink Floyd-like psychedelia and Woodstock-era protest rock to Motown soul, 70’s funk, modern rock flavors and more; weaving them all together in the context of their own identifiable signature sound. The group’s two primary singers and songsmiths, multi-instrumentalist Stephen Musti and keyboardist/guitarist Mark Higgins, convey a variety of vocal stylings throughout the album, ranging from soulful to angry and dreamy to serious, with diverse vocal mood swings sometimes occurring in the same song. Both musicians, along with guitarist/keyboardist/bassist Aaron Hoke, bassist Matthew Boyer and drummer Dana DeLong, flesh out the sound with an ever-changing backdrop, mixing electric and acoustic guitar textures, varying key flavors, layering and effects to keep things interesting. Love And War comes at the listener from all directions, from trippy-hippy romps like the opener “Holiday” and the split-personality “Final Fight” to sterner, harder-edged numbers like “Word,” “Picture” and “Forge.” The Illuminati offer funkier fare with “Crazy,” the socio-political “Lie, Lie, Lie” (with cameo appearances from radio talk show host Michael Savage and the President) and the Motown-ish “I’m Movin’ On.” Also present here is a contemplation about apathy on “Snooze Bar,” and a Woodstock-like folk protest song in the album-closer “Universal Soldier.” The Illuminati lays it on a little thick with the effects and psychedelia on “Living Proof (For Shame),” dulling the full impact of the song’s socially conscious lyrics. But more often than not, The Illuminati’s musical adventurism works on Love And War, and the result is an album that stays busy and never dwells in one place for too long. The Illuminati cast aside the rulebook here, and the listener will be in for an unpredictable, mind-warping joyride. (The album can be obtained by visiting the group’s website, www.theilluminatiband.com.)