Album Review

May 8th, 2010. Another album review, this time from Belgium. This is a rough translation from a review on the website www.rootstime.be

Neal Pace plays music that is relatively simple, straight roots rock, with some heavier influences and often there is a lot of folk rock, and yes, of course, country. Moreover, his style smoothly varies from song to song.

With solid rock the CD is opened: energetic vocals on top of a smooth, lightly overdriven guitar sound, but the roots sound we have become so fond of, fortunately is clearly present. The next number concerns a woman, “Ann Mari” and is consequently of quieter nature.

Regularly around the corner comes a squealing harmonica, which is clearly a Neil Young/Crazy Horse influence. Even the generally simple guitar arrangements go in that same direction. But even more still, the treatment and the overall sound personally remind me of Tom Petty, however slightly looser than the sound of the master himself…but his voice timbre is in the vicinity, clearly demonstrated on songs such as “Empty”.

Afterwards, on “Jackson Street” he goes back into a rougher style, but even still the influence of Tom Petty is not far away. I think maybe the man has for many years had nothing else playing…or it may be just coincidence. Either way, it does not bother me in any way. The quieter and slightly less quiet numbers are beautifully balanced and spread about the CD so that you have no chance to get bored. “Lost Days (Waiting for You)” is a broken heart song which cries out musically the pain that a man can feel while he’s waiting for her.

“On Her Own”, I personally think is the top number on the CD. My apologies for repeating myself, but this is pure Tom Petty, and had this been on his CD it would definitely be considered a classic hit. Oops, this tends to be an exaggeration perhaps…but I would recommend the lover of Tom Petty to listen with both ears to this very enjoyable job. Neil Young fans, ditto!

ALBUM REVIEW

A review of the new album from an alt-country website in the Netherlands. Here is the rough translation of the high points (I don't speak Dutch but this is what Google tells me!)

Neal Pace from Iowa has IT.  Artists that sound like Neil Young & Crazy Horse usually have the musical similarities, but get nowhere near the Dinosaur Sr. if you compare to his feelings during the performance. This Neal Pace has, however.

 The spirit is already directly evident in the old-fashioned rocker “Over The Moon” with vibrant harmonica playing of Canadian JC Mosquito.

On the whole album, with constant babble and solos, Neal leaves a distinctive sound like Crazy Horse, which makes the resemblance to Neil (Young) complete. The resemblance to Neil Young is not annoying however, because Neal is not imitating the dinosaur, but its soul and bliss is exposed fully in the songs.

"Maybe Someday" alternates electric and acoustic and has a song in “Down By The River” form in “On Top of The World”. More than eight minutes long and alternating vocals and guitar solos, this is the absolute top of the album.

Folk and country (with a Byrds influence) meet on Lost Days.

Neal manifests in the role of acoustic musician, with occasional accompaniment of bass and great vocal harmonies during the stripped “Empty”.

Despite two missteps during the album and unfinished songs in “Jackson Street” and the closing “Unseen”, I love the positive feeling of "Maybe Someday" by Neal Pace. On every great album dwells lesser numbers. "Maybe Someday" is simply old-fashioned rock `n Roll on a platter!

 http://www.altcountryforum.nl/2009/10/13/neal-pace-maybe-someday/

ALBUM RELEASE

Oct. 7th :

The new album is now available at CDBaby.com.  The physical CD is available for $11, and digital downloads are $.99 each song or $8.00 for the whole album.