Music Review of Keep It Simple by Greg Stephens
Posted September 17, 2006 By Dark

Greg Stephens: Keep It Simple

Label: C&R Records
Released: 2005
Website: http://www.gregstephensmusic.com

September 17, 2006 - On Greg's website he writes - "At some point, approximately 3 years ago, I decided to get back into the music scene. Some people buy sports cars or fancy boats, start sky diving, or riding bulls; I decided to play, record and perform music again. Not for money, but for the love of music and the challenge it offers. If money comes my way through music, great! If some people dig my tunes and albums I make, or enjoy my live shows, that's even better.
What becomes of my music, "I Don't Know".

This CD was a trick right from the very first track, yeah a magic trick is what I mean. At first I thought this music was going to spoil my ride, but the magic started and I started to grove with the music on the pedal. At the time I was riding mid-mountain trail in Park City Utah, it was raining softly and the music started to get me into the mood to climb. The first song on the cd There's Something About The Way You Move starts off with a country twang, but soon moves into a blues sound that grooved me sweet. The next song Down By The Ocean was softer but clean and easy to ride with, no complaints on that. Time Goes On the third song was a country rock song, drawing from singing the blues as it's main message.

Keep It Simple the 4th and title song of the cd was a simple rock blues rendition with some really juicy slides and drops. The 5th song Why Are You So Sad had a Jimmy Buffet band sound going on, with clean crafty lyrics that blended well with the island sound. Took The Money And Ran the 6th song on the cd is a southern rock mix with a deep vocal blast picking the song up and giving it wings. Number 7 Good Luck Charm is a hard song to get your fingers on, it drifts from folk to blues to country before it settles on a mix of them all, very nice mix!

So Easy was the 8th song and a love song this one is, the flutter of the background guitar brings the music a wide open sound. #9 I Wish You'd Love Me Tonight reminded me of an old Bob Segar song from my high school days, good mix of vocal and music keeps the song alive to the end. The last song on the cd #10 Please Don't Give Up On Me had this spanish guitar that kept reminding you this isn't country music or is it. This cd is a very good mix of music for people that want to take their time and enjoy what they are doing in life.

*** [3 of 5 stars]

~Dark, Bill Messick
dark@newartistradio.net