Post by jptheprofessor on Oct 15, 2007 15:33:46 GMT -5
TED McCLOSKEY – TECHNICOLOR THIEVES (Voodoo Records) Happy Valley’s Ted McCloskey continues his prolific musical output with his fourth solo album in five years, Technicolor Thieves. Over the album’s fourteen songs, McCloskey again raises the bar with some of his most edgy and captivating creations yet. And even more so than his past output, he gets some issues off his chest through observational and often witty lyrics. The hard-rocking opener “Out with the Old Queens” calls for a change at the top, while “The Lowest Common Grain of Salt” offers a slam against Hollywood and the purveyors of today’s pop culture. In a reflective vein, the country-flavored “The Last Independent Record Store” laments the near extinction of hometown indy music brokers and the passage of a special era. Ted shuts out the outside world and its problems for an evening on the punchy “Drinking In Tonight,” vents about broken promises on the agitated “Wait, Wait,” and muses about the workplace daily grind on “Zombie for Rent.” In a lighter vein, “Mermaid in a Bar” offers a portrait of a tavern seductress, while “Passing in Stereo” captures a tranquil moment on an interstate highway. Once again, Ted McCloskey shows his knack for sharp songcraft with lean, focused melodies that get to the point quickly. As a singer, he sells his lyrical themes with a convincing coyness and a snide demeanor, riding on tight instrumental backdrops generated by Ted, drummer Daryl Branford and bassist Rene Witzke. McCloskey's production skills shine again, giving clarity to each component of the sound; supplemented by layering of guitars, occasional studio effects and backing singer Molly Countermine's timely accents and vocal arrangements. Crowning an already impressive resume, Technicolor Thieves is Ted McCloskey's strongest set to date, blending focused pop melodies, musical variety, and edgy and thoughtful lyrical messages into a vibrant, stimulating listen. Simple stated, it's one of the strongest albums to emerge from the state's music scene this year. (To obtain the CD, visit Ted McCloskey's website, www.tedmccloskey.com.)