Randy Craig

Legwarmers. The Dukes of Hazzard. Care Bears. Everywhere you look, the 80's have come back into style. And music is no exception. Taking its inspiration from various genres of the multi-tonal decade of music, Colorado-based Randy Craig’s debut release, Spin proves that you can indeed bring back styles of the past & with a little “spin” of your own, create new sounds worth sitting up & taking a listen to.

Rush fans will rejoice in the Geddy Lee-tinged sound of Craig’s voice. Listeners seeking an American artist with a little international flavor will be satisfied. Acoustic guitar lovers will smile. There is rock, there are ballads, there’s folk… In fact, there are so many layers worth exploring on Spin that at times it is quite dizzying for the listener.

The richness of these songs is to their benefit. Stunning acoustic guitar work on songs like “Smile” & the title track “Spin” contradicts the classic rock sound of the CD bookends “Out of Reach” & “Bumper Cars,” but that’s what makes this effort such an adventure for the listener … you never know what’s waiting around the next corner. Peek around the bend & you’ll find the bandito-inspired “Resolve,” but a few songs later, you discover the self-questioning, folk-reminiscent “King for a Day.” But what you find is really a matter of how close you listen, because within each of these songs, Craig takes chances that produce unexpected surprises.

The one downfall of the album is the overproduction on some tracks. The “wall of sound” on songs like “Out of Reach” & “All You Need” can swallow Craig’s voice – a pity because Craig shows promise as a writer and a casual listener might miss out on some of the lyrical nuggets hidden beneath the music. For that very reason, standout tracks are the “softer” ones – “Smile” & “Questions” are particularly strong.

The weak-willed may find Spin a little too adventurous, but for music lovers who are searching for a wild ride, Randy Craig is the artist to look to. For $10, you can twist yourself into the sound of this unique singer-songwriter. The CD is available for purchase at CDBaby. For more on Randy Craig or tour dates, click here.

:: Krissie Callahan :: - www.justanothersong.com