Post by jptheprofessor on Jan 13, 2008 23:33:38 GMT -5
ROB WALLACE & THE MESS – INFIDELITY IN HI-FI (no label) Hailing from the Bedford/Cumberland area, Rob Wallace & the Mess introduce a rough, rowdy, and rural-flavored brand of rock on their debut CD, IInfidelity in Hi-Fi. Namesake Rob Wallace on vocals, guitar and keyboard; Mark Wigfield on drums and Ryan Wigfield on bass and backing vocals craft a hybrid sound rooted in the classic fuzz-guitar distortion rock of Neil Young & Crazy Horse, serving as the launching pad for excursions into blues, honky tonk, rockabilly/psychobilly and more. Often sporting a gravelly and humble Johnny Cash-like baritone, Rob croons redneck-flavored odes to love, hate, lust, temptation, exorcism of inner and outer demons and more. He makes a play for the farmer's daughter on the rumbling ballad "Harvestin' Time," and portrays the loser undeserving of love on the similar and forlorn "Wildfire." Conversely, he trashes a two-timing white trash queen on the rowdy title song "Infidelity in Hi-Fi," but concedes infidelity himself on the swamp blues-flavored “Somebody Else.” Rob and the Mess pick up the tempo, chase and are chased by demons on the psychobilly-flavored “Up All Night Dreamin’” and “Born Heller Heart;” and blend rock and honky-tonk as Rob finds salvation in a bar on “Divine Intervention.” The album has a prominent ragged, gritty texture; with the weighty rhythms and coarse guitar edge providing the sound’s driving force. Organ and piano nicely flesh out the slower numbers, and saloon-styled piano lends an additional fire and brimstone flavor to “May the Devil Have Mercy on Your G-d**n Soul.” Produced by Mark Poole and the band, and recorded, mixed and mastered at Zone 8 Recording Studio in Morgantown, Infidelity in Hi-Fi has a booming, full and balanced sound. The guitars are jagged, with clever use of occasional flanging and other effects along the way to help paint the mood. The album has a loose feel, lending to the rural feel of the set. Rob Wallace & the Mess weave a fine mess on Infidelity in Hi-Fi, a hearty, strong debut that fans of heavy rural-rooted blues- and country-rock should enjoy. (The CD can be obtained through the group's website, www.robwallaceandthemess.com.)