Sounding Rick

Over the years we’ve seen music slowly erode into something quite disturbing. Morph back to a happier time when you will find a more carefree musical expression – embodiment of a carefree society. Music these day, though very technically savvy is missing something. What you get is artists that act in a very overcompensating way trying to prove how sick & shocking they are. At the end of they day it’s really just a publicity stunt meant to get your attention for more than 1 minute. Talking to many music fans out there, the response is overwhelming. Give me something that doesn’t try to be over the top, something that is fun, entertaining & just a blast to listen to.

So across my desk slides the latest CD by Sounding Rick entitled Dinosaur Bones. Venture to his URL you will discover this is one of those guys that’s been writing great music for a while now down in the Tampa Bay area. Sounding Rick is headed up by guitarist/singer/songwriter Rick Reynolds. What I heard put a smile on my face, finally a band that gets it. Sounding Rick is some of the best new music I’ve heard in quite some time & delivers many of the aforementioned items I spoke about. You want good playing; you want rock, funk & R&B that is packed to the hilt with a feel good vibe? Well look no further. This CD covers all the bases delivering solid playing & amazing songwriting & a musical flair that takes us back to a more carefree time.

Dinosaur Bones by Rick Reynolds & company is a breath of fresh air & it’s what we’ve all been waiting for. It’s a polished sounding musical production from start to finish & possesses a lot of diversity – funk, R&B, Jazz, Rock & even pop. It’s got good playing, solid writing, & a feel good vibe that will lift your spirits without ever trying to hard. It’s definitely a musical production that gives us a glimpse of what music was meant to do – make us happy not sad & depressed. Digging up Dinosaur Bones can be a refreshing blast from the past.

By: Drew Blackwell – INDIE MUSIC MEDIA STAFF

- Skope Magazine

The Artist I recently checked out the latest CD from Tampa Bay's own Rick Reynolds (Sounding Rick) entitled Dinosaur Bones released in 2010. Reynolds is an accomplished musician/singer/songwriter with over 6 albums to his credit he is no stranger to the Industry.

The band Reynolds plays guitar & sings. Reynolds' band is rock solid across the board. I would say they possess above average to advanced playing & writing abilities. Timing is spot on within the indie-alternative rock, R&B grooves. Reynolds vocal presence & guitar playing are amazing, as he delivers many solid vocal & guitar playing performances that match this style of music perfectly. I would say Reynolds definitely has star quality as he is clearly the focal point of this band. The music Upbeat, funny, interesting, thought provoking, zany, neurotic, & at times funky. All in all great original music with a feel good vibe. Musical textures reminiscent of classic Greg Khin, Maroon 5, Robert Palmer & Even Tommy Tutone – anything guitar driven & entertaining. If you like these kinds of artists you will get a kick out of Sounding Rick. The songs Above average songs - even flirting with brilliant. Very simple yet effective, conservative, highly original, raw & powerful. It strikes the prefect balance between alternative rock, R&B & just a dash of funk. This guy probably could probably cover "Play that Funky Music" perfectly. Reynolds is clearly being himself as a songwriter & this is what comes out of the other end. My favorite songs on the CD are the title track & 5 Body Blade. The vibe Great vibe. Perfect for late night college parties, coffeehouses, or even magazine shops. The production delivers a lot of musical variety with the 6 piece line-up. Honorable mentions go out to Reynolds himself for not being afraid to let it all hang out musically. Reynolds is not trying to be some popish artist striving for mass appeal – he’s just being himself. Other positive aspects of the production include rock solid mix & crystal clear recording quality that really hit home. The CD refuses to try to hard – that’s what makes it so amazing The good Like the artist - very likeable, marketable, infectious. Amazing songs. The bad Jam Band format makes a few songs feel a bit winded. I would recommend Reynolds trim off about 10% of time off the production. This would make it shorter & Sweeter. The ugly Nothing to report.

The verdict Dinosaur Bones by Rick Reynolds is a rock solid CD. The songwriting is clearly above average. The production gets it’s point across. Again the most amazing thing about this CD is Reynolds persona & performances. He’s got the mojo & is an amazing composer. It's obvious to me why Rick Reynolds is so popular in the Bay area. Fans of a carefree Alternative-College Rock, R&B & funk will love Sounding Rick.
Markus Druery
Indieshark Music Critic
- Indie Shark Review

It seems that every great artist has an album that represents a pinnacle as they grow through their creative process. For the Beatles it was “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band”. For the Beach Boys it was “Pet Sounds”. For Pink Floyd it was “Dark Side of the Moon”. For Sounding Rick that pinnacle is “Dinosaur Bones”.

One thing I like about Ricks music is that it’s always fresh and full of surprises. He doesn’t seem to follow a cookie cutter formula and on this album’s 13 tracks, he explores styles as varied as American rock to jazz to funk to world music and more!

Unlike his 2009 release “Blabbermouth” where Rick employed a host of background singers and side musicians, he recorded “Dinosaur Bones” using just a drummer, bassist and multi instrumentalist brass genius. All the keyboards, guitars and vocals were performed by Rick.

From the lush vocal harmonies of the opening number “Tuesday Morning” you can hear the Todd Rundgren influence. It is clear that working with Utopia bass player and longtime Rundgren collaborator Kasim Sulton has really impacted Rick’s production style.

Rick admits that he was also hugely influenced by Steely Dan’s clean production style. “Black and White”, “Five Body Blade” and “Media Mania” are cool songs that show the depth of Rick’s bag of aural tricks and his affinity for alternative adult contemporary.

The title track “Dinosaur Bones”, is a funny poke at the music business and how it chews up young talent and uses it till it is no longer relevant. The fictional character in the song is a conglomeration of players Rick has worked with over the years.

If you have headphones and want to take a trip without leaving your room, “The Weather” is a spectacular listen and cheaper than airfare. It is hypnotic and a pleasure to hear.

Inspired by news of another slimy politician’s infidelity and his secret trips to Argentina, the humorous track “Politician” incorporates recordings of indigenous percussion tracks Rick captured while in the streets of Haiti, Costa Rica, Panama and Columbia.

The album wraps with “Mission Control” a biting narrative about BP’s Gulf Oil Spill. “Growing up watching NASA go to the moon and the guys in the white shirts handle setbacks and disasters made me wonder why BP didn’t have the same thing”, says Rick.

In my opinion, the sign of a great album is its’ ability to grow on you with each listen. Before writing this review I spent two weeks listening to a promo copy and my favorite songs change with my mood (that hasn’t happened in a long time).

All in all, “Dinosaur Bones” is a triumph of Rick’s songwriting genius and further cements him as one of the greatest American artists yet to be widely discovered.
Susan Thomas
- CD Baby

YOU’LL DIG “DINOSAUR BONES” … SOUNDING RICK’S LATEST RELEASE

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA (January 17, 2011) – It seems that every great artist has an album that represents a pinnacle as they grow through their creative process. For the Beatles it was “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. For the Beach Boys it was “Pet Sounds”. For Pink Floyd it was “Dark Side of the Moon”. For Sounding Rick that pinnacle is “Dinosaur Bones.”

Sounding Rick has a long and storied music career with seven releases in the past five years. Playing in bands all over the country and working with artists such as George Clinton, Kasim Sulton and Nazareth, Sounding Rick has garnered a devoted fan base and gained the experience necessary to record and produce quality music. A blend of genres including rock, jazz, blues and reggae, Sounding Rick’s latest offering, Dinosaur Bones, is a varied and eclectic collection of 13 incredible songs that will leave a lasting impression.

Dinosaur Bones will be released January 19th to the general public, but it has already created quite a buzz in the music industry with rave reviews.

“If you’re looking for an upbeat musical experience that possesses lot of musical variety, brilliant songwriting, that will lift your spirits in the process I highly recommend you jump head first into Dinosaur Bones” by Rick Reynolds as soon as possible,” says Cyrus Rhodes of Indie Review Digest.

And freelance writer Rhonda Readance had this to say, "Sounding Rick and company are without doubt a group of musicians in a class of their own with the talent and experience to continue making excellent music for many years to come."

Sounding Rick has toured Japan and South America, but you will have a chance to catch them when they record a PBS television special at StudioAmped on February 4th at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College. They will also be appearing at Pensacola’s premier music venue, Vinyl, on February 20th. Attendees of “StudioAmped” taping will receive special VIP admittance passes to the Vinyl performance.

“I have played all over the world, but look forward to bringing my music home to my friends and neighbors in the Pensacola area,” says Rick. "We are also planning another tour of Japan as well as other US appearances."

So if you dig good music, you’ll want to unearth the new Dinosaur Bones CD by Sounding Rick. For additional information, visit our website at http://www.SoundingRick.com and become a Facebook fan at http://www.Facebook.com/soundingrick. Download Dinosaur Bones at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/soundingrick6

- Music as Message

Few local artists can say they’ve had the opportunity to spread their wings and travel outside the confinements of Santa Rosa County to deliver their live music to audiences all across the United States, Japan and South America.

Navarre resident Rick Reynolds with Sounding Rick has had the opportunity to do just that with the likes of bands such as George Clinton and Nazareth. And now the local artist is bringing his live vibe to the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College in Pensacola Friday night he and his background artists will perform in front of people and cameras alike as part of a StudioAmped performance.

StudioAmped is an eight-week concert series that features local bands from around the Gulf Coast, and has them showcase their music in front of a live audience.

Reynolds got the opportunity to perform on StudioAmped after meeting and becoming good friends with Gwen McCrae, a Pensacola native who had a number one hit called “Rockin’ Chair” back in 1975.

After performing at a local radio station recently, the station owner referred Reynolds to the singer who took part in a StudioAmped performance in 2009.

“When we became good friends, she told me about her performance at StudioAmped. I’ve always been a big supporter of my locals,” Reynolds said

As Reynolds will tell you, Sounding Rick doesn’t rely on a specific genre. His music has a mixture of rock, jazz, blues and reggae. The same sounds locals may be familiar with in the Pensacola and Santa Rosa County area.

“I was described as a eclectic artists a long time ago. I’m not really genre specific,” Reynolds said. “It’s a real mix, and that’s good for the audience and bad when you’re looking at recording.”

Sounding Rick, is planning another trip to Japan in the fall. But right now, Reynolds said he is focusing much of time on the local area.

“Right now, I’m focusing my energy on getting a regional response,” Reynolds said. “I’m going to try to build and play shows between here and New Orleans.”

Since Reynolds relies on backup artists for his shows, his StudioAmped performance will include 11 players including five horn players and two background singers.

To enhance further on their show at PSC, the Navarre native will also be appearing at Pensacola’s premier music venue, Vinyl, on Feb. 20.

Those in attendance at the “StudioAmped” concert will receive special VIP passes to the Vinyl performance.

Sounding Rick’s newest album “Dinosaur Bones” which hit music shelves on Jan. 19 has over 13 songs from Rick and several background artists.

To give the album a local twist, Reynolds incorporated a song called “Mission Control” which centers on the oil spill in the Gulf.

His CD “Dinosaur Bones” is one of seven albums Reynolds has helped produce and release over the past five years.

“I’m producing albums like a mad man,” he said.

The Navarre resident who has lived in the area for 15 years said he loves what the region has to offer, even when he’s busy touring all around the world.

“I love living here. It’s a great place to raise a family because
- Santa Rosa Press Gazette

Music must be good for you or it there wouldn’t be so much of it about. Then again, you could say the same thing about radiation. Or Macdonalds for that matter. Anyway, what has all that that got to do with Sounding Rick’s album “Dinosaur Bones”? Well, this is actually the seventh album from Sounding Rick so their music must be good for you.

The funny thing though is that this album sounds more like a seventeenth than a seventh album. For a start, it has that dated retro feel to it – you even get a bit of white boy proto rap in the title track – that seems so popular these days outside of Europe though, admittedly, it is a very convincing bit of remanufacturing that has been done here. The songs have been injected with singalong hooks and melodies that would surely attract the ears of radio programmers (if such people actually did more than recycle old hits these days) and some, such as “Politician”, manage to evoke comparisons with the likes of Squeeze or Jonathan Richman. Yes, underneath that layer of low fat cheese there might well be a bit of the old subversion adding some spice to the melting pot of eighties’ influences.

It would have been easy to dismiss this album as like many albums of its sort – written, produced and engineered by Rick (Reynolds) himself – it does suffer from indiscipline thus weakening a good few of the songs by allowing them to drag on way too long. Well, it would have been easy if the album hadn’t turned out to be so likeable. So, trust your own ears and give this one a listen. It might well be good for you too.

- Blues Bunny

Tampa Bay native Rick Reynolds (Sounding Rick) releases his latest CD entitled: Dinosaur Bones in 2010. Reynolds is no stranger to the music business. Over an impressive musical career he has released multiple full length albums & has worked with the likes of Nazareth, Kasim Sulton, & George Clinton just to name a few. Reynolds brings himself along with his band of 6 to the table for this his 7th full length release.

The CD takes to flight with melodic intro piece “Tuesday Morning” an upbeat intro piece that serves up dynamic progressive rock groove, with dynamic musical flow & ebbing coupled with hooky harmonies & impressive vocal accents from Reynolds. Track 2 “Black & White” shifts gears a bit with its slamming rock groove meshed with well-placed vocal harmonies & passionate vocal delivery that flows & ebbs it’s way through to emotional fruition. Track 3 “Dinosaur Bones” lets it all hang with it’s hard rocking guitar delivery, mesmerizing vocal reinforcements & thought provoking lyrical content As the CD unfolds I can hear many musical influences reminiscent of classic Robert Palmer, Maroon 5. Chicago, Red Hot Chili Peppers, & even brief splashes of Aerosmith & Oingo Boingo. Right from the start you will notice Reynolds feels quite comfortable letting it all hang out, not holding anything back with respect to his musical expression. The overall musical signature is quite unique, upbeat, & has a hard rocking edge. I would classify this music as Funkadelic-R&B with a Hard Rock edge possessing vibrant melody & amazing musical textures layered everywhere. Musicianship is rock solid across the board as all band members write & play their musical parts extremely well. I especially liked some of the slamming low end rock-funk grooves presented on the CD. Beside the 4 piece standard delivery you will also notice lush layers of instrumentation layered along the way with impressive Hammond Organ, Horn Sections, Flute, Violin, Saxophone, impressive keyboard accents, amazing harmonies, slamming rhythm section & well placed sonic effects along the way. His vocal harmonies are extremely creative & well placed, as well as being well executed. The songs themselves are addictive, infectious & are extremely unpredictable. Song for song, you never really know what’s around the next corner. Dive deeper into the lyrical content you will discover even more amazing mysteries. No doubt the true meanings of some of these songs is buried deep within the lyrical content. Reynolds voice works well across the board & at times transcends pigeonholed. All songs possess a unique personality complete with signature groove are short & this CD pretty much has something for everyone. From slamming “You Asked” & “5 Body Blade”, to melodic “The Weather” to slow grooving “Politician” to passionate “The Stranger” this CD has something for just about everyone. The true brilliance of Reynolds shines through on some of the songs where he dares to share some personal secrets with you like on “Media Mania”, “I Say So”, & “Hip Hooray” The CD ends with “Mission Control” the perfect finale piece for this musical catalogue.

It’s hard to find any noticeable weaknesses when listening to Dinosaur Bones. All songs over 5 minutes tend to drag you to the finish line, & as a result the catalogue as a whole is a bit winded.

Needless to say Dinosaur Bones by Sounding Rick (Rick Reynolds) is a fun & funkadelic vmusical experience. Rick Reynolds has proven himself yet again with this release & hits home with his experience & his ability to make the (singer to listener) musical connection. It’s strong suit – its rock solid consistency, song for song vibe, & overall musical brilliance of Rick Reynolds. The music is original, creative, extremely melodic, & like the aforementioned will lift your spirits without even trying. Equally as impressive is the songwriting virtuoso of Rick Reynolds as he sings, plays guitars, keyboards & even percussion on the CD. If he wrote all this music - well that makes his a 4 pronged musical threat. I really admire artists out there who are themselves & just let the chips fall where they may. Praise goes out to the artist that can show us something real and genuine beneath their veil of vanity. Rick Reynolds is one of these artists. So if you’re looking for an upbeat musical experience that possesses lot of musical variety, brilliant songwriting, that will lift your spirits in the process I highly recommend you jump head first into Sounding Rick by Rick Reynolds as soon as possible.

- Indie Music Digest

Enthusiasm is often ignored as a creative force in the music world, but there are still plenty of examples of bands that make a living from loving what they do. This ethos drives every minute of Dinosaur Bones, the seventh album in just five years from guitarist Sounding Rick (ne Rick Reynolds), and it serves as the album’s unifying force. Reynolds is a veteran musician, songwriter, and bandleader who led a musical life from his earliest days. He knows no other way to live, and he has no trouble filling this album’s 70 minutes with a wide variety of ideas.
While his influences, such as rock of the pre-millennial variety, soul and funk, and classic singer/songwriter structures, are clear, the sound is an incredibly difficult one to describe. Rather than affect the lyrical gravity of a Springsteen or Dylan, who he seemingly strives to match in terms of sheer musical output, Reynolds traffics in a more down to Earth style of songwriting and singing.
The range of sounds on Dinosaur Bones is truly impressive. By the time the last track, the celebratory, climactic ”Mission Control” rolls around, you’ll have heard everything from horny urban funk-rock (“Tuesday Morning,” “Black and White”) and psychedelic strains (“The Weather”) to screeching ska-punk spoken word (“Dinosaur Bones”) and slinky soul (“5 Body Blade”). Often reminiscent of All Mighty Senators, the band’s strikingly east coast sound is defined by rock songs that are embellished with tasteful, timely horn lines, international elements, and insistent, dynamic rhythms.
Reynolds not only sings and plays guitar and keys on this disc, but he is even listed as producer and engineer of the whole thing. That said he does an admirable job in conveying his ideas while letting his fine band members put their talents to use. In particular, the warm, welcoming bass of Greg Roth thrums, hums, and thumps through the album like a deep heartbeat, sending funk-rich rhythmic blood to the other limbs of the band. Michael Glenn and Jim Andrews form an important horn section that sounds far more expansive than their actual number here. Both play saxophone, with Glenn adding trumpet, trombone, and flugelhorn to help form a virtual brass backline that pushes many of the album’s songs to a markedly higher level of quality.
The standout track “Politician” showcases a near-perfect blending of various ideas, with Reynolds sounding a bit like Elvis Costello in front of an exotic, bubbling backdrop of swooning horns, sexy organ and bass interplay, and jazzy drumming from the versatile, enigmatically named Bomani. The same vibe bleeds into the next track, “The Stranger,” and the two songs help form a laid-back interlude in the middle of the album that begins with the mellow, atmospheric rock of “The Weather” and ends with “Here We Go Again,” a down and dirty funk number that might put some strain on the listener’s backbone.
There are so many worthy songs on Dinosaur Bones, it’s easy to see why Reynolds would want to include them all. Still, the album has an awful lot of good material, and it will be worth watching Reynolds in the future to see if he can create a start-to-finish masterpiece. He certainly exhibits the capability to do so on Dinosaur Bones.

- Bryan Rogers

Rick Reynolds, the mastermind behind the project Sounding Rick, has a long and storied music career with seven releases in the past five years. Playing in bands all over the country and working with artists such as George Clinton, Kasim Sulton and Nazareth, Rick has garnered a devoted fan base and gained the experience necessary to record and produce quality music. A blend of genres including rock, jazz, blues and reggae, Sounding Rick’s latest offering, Dinosaur Bones, is a varied and eclectic collection of 13 incredible songs that will leave a lasting impression.
“Tuesday Morning” begins with a beautifully melodic vocal harmony that lulls one into a tranquil state of peacefulness, at least until the rude sound of an alarm clock sends a jolt through the mind. This track has a singsong quality to it that is catchy and upbeat. Rick’s voice is pleasantly smooth and the instrumentation and composition of this track is brilliant. This is a fantastic introduction to Sounding Rick. “Black & White” has a jazzy funky vibe to it that showcases the talent of Rick and his band. The sound is extremely well engineered and the horn ensemble in this piece is nothing short of fascinating. Lyrically sound and musically innovative, this song will get the fingers snapping and the feet tapping.
The title track, “Dinosaur Bones,” has more of a rock feel to it and the vocal delivery changes the rhythm of this album. Rick begins by almost speaking the lyrics and then singing them with an attitude and confidence that is commendable. The horn section in this piece is fantastic and this high-energy track will be a fan favorite. “5 Body Blade” has a jazzy rhythm that is performed with skill and ease. Rick hits some high notes during this song and the talent amongst this collective is evident. Exceptional musicianship and a simpler composition make this an easy and enjoyable song to listen to, perhaps while dancing in the arms of a favorite companion in a smoky jazz club.
“The Weather” continues the smooth flow of this album and Rick’s voice emulates Lenny Kravitz at times. The rhythm of this song is achingly familiar but difficult to place. There is a melancholy sensation that accompanies this track, and yet it is uplifting in a beautiful and elegant way. Fans will absolutely adore this offering. “Politician,” the longest track on the album at just over eight minutes, has a bit of a reggae rhythm to it and Rick employs a slight accent to complete the feel. The instrumentation is basic and simple and this piece is relaxing, bringing to mind sunshine and palm trees. The indigenous chanting and drumming at the beginning and end of the track is a wonderful bonus. “The Stranger” is another signature Sounding Rick tune with a slow tempo and seductive vocals. Rick can be compared to Stevie Wonder at times and the lyrics are meaningful and heartfelt.
“Here We Go Again” is a funk-laden piece with a smooth bass line and a rhythm that ranges from slow and snazzy to loud and brazen. This song is extraordinarily well composed and it flows along seamlessly. The entire cast of characters has a hand in this one and it epitomizes the Sounding Rick experience. “Media Mania” contains some of the best vocal work on the album and a jazzy vibe to it that is simply brilliant. The sound quality is stellar throughout and Rick’s voice is smooth and seductive as he leads this piece to its graceful closing. “You Asked” picks up the tempo and get the feet tapping. There is a carefree attitude about this piece and the lyrics carry a slight edge to them. People will relate to this track and Sounding Rick has embodied the overwhelming sense of frustration that we feel when someone asks us a question and we give our answer, and the answer is not what the person wanted to hear. Well, as Sounding Rick sings, you asked. Great track.
“I Say So” is another slow jazzy tune with a quiet beat and excellent instrumentation. The horns sound fantastic and the engineering on this piece is perfect. The lyrics are thought provoking and intelligent and the vocals are expertly delivered. Dinosaur Bones begins to close with “Hip Hooray,” one of the most honest and heartfelt songs on the album. Rick hits each note with precision and the band falls into place like the skilled artists that they are. A masterful collaboration, this piece has some jazz, some blues, some rock and some reggae, not to mention some exceptional guitar work. The final track is “Mission Control” and it’s a nice choice to end on. This piece has funk and attitude and the classic Sounding Rick vibe; Brassy horns, smooth bass, gentle drums, skilled guitar work, excellent vocals. It’s the whole package wrapped into one song. Sounding Rick and company are without doubt a group of musicians in a class of their own with the talent and experience to continue making excellent music for many years to come.
Review by Rhonda Readence
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

- Rhonda Readence

Sounding Rick's 11-piece band is taking over the "StudioAmped" stage at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd., at 7 p.m. today. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert, which is presented by GoPensacola.com, is free and open to all ages.
The band for the "StudioAmped" performance consists of Rick Reynolds (vocals and guitar), Donnie Morgan (drums), Jim LaBerge (bass), Michael Glenn (trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn and flute), Dustin Bonifay (trumpet and flugelhorn), Blake Garcia (trumpet and flugelhorn), Drew Pritchard (trumpet and flugelhorn), Rodney Brown (soprano, tenor and baritone sax), Burt Kimberl (keyboards), Davida (backup vocals) and Chris Cyr (backup vocals).
"I'm just really, really excited about having these great players who are exited about playing my music and working with me on this project," Reynolds said. "A lot of people ask me what Sounding Rick is and Sounding Rick is kind of like me and whoever's interested and available to be a part of that particular project that we're working on."
Sounding Rick will be promoting its newest album — its seventh in five years — called "Dinosaur Bones," which was released on Jan. 19. The album can be found at any major online music source, including iTunes, Amazon.com and CD Baby, as well as on the band's website, www.soundingrick.com.
Every Friday, Sounding Rick posts mostly new or unreleased songs on its Facebook page for fans to download for free.
"This album is different because as a producer, I think I kind of came into another place in terms of being able to do (the recording) more attached than what I would've done it before," Reynolds said. "My stuff is all over the place, stylistically. I'll do a reggae song and then I'll do a straight up rock tune or like a power trio song and then I'll have a jazz song or funk song. I'm all over the place, where other musicians probably sit back and try to work a formula. That's not what I do. I just kind of let it happen and see what happens."
And if the new album isn't enough for fans, there is already another Sounding Rick album in the works that is "90 percent complete."
"There were a lot of extra songs that didn't make it on 'Dinosaur Bones' and songs from another album that I was going to do with Kasim (Sulton) a couple years ago that we didn't end up getting to work together on," Reynolds said. "I don't know if it's a sickness or a disease, but I write songs like people text. I've probably written over 1,000 songs and I've released a bunch of records and CDs over the years." Sounding Rick is planning another tour in Japan and also in Europe, as well as more festivals in the regional United States area.
The band also is performing at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 Palafox Place, on Feb. 20, and will be doing a live recording of the concert to be edited and released as the "Live at Vinyl" album.
"Dinosaur Bones" will be available for purchase at both shows.
For more information about "StudioAmped," visit www.wsre.org/studioamped.
- Pensacola News Journal

From the first play, I was impressed with the energy, the clever arrangements and the clarity of the voices and instrumentation. Remember when you could understand the lyrics? The songs are fresh but pleasantly familiar - reflecting a diverse bunch of pop influences from 60s Motown to Weather Report and Sea Level, the Beatles and even a little Green Day. This is all Rick's stuff. There are no covers or remixes. Arrangements and production values show regard for both the musicians and the audience. Rick does the lead vocals, Donnie Morgan co-wrote some of the cuts and keeps the train moving with great precision on the drums. Roger Villines plays a glorious trumpet and Jim Andrews rips the saxophone. Greg Roth worked with Rick writing some of the songs and lends his vocals. This is a keep-in-your-car CD. It'll provide a little boost on a rainy-day drive or help prevent road rage while waiting for traffic to clear. Think of it as sing-a-long music for grown-ups who have been around the block a few times. To get more information go to www.soundingrick.com - Navarre Press - Chuck Adams

In this time of big corporate radio and formula music, it is refreshing to find an artist who covers this much ground! Sounding Rick’s voice reminds me of Burton Cummings from the Guess Who. The songs run the gamut from the Nirvana like “Turn You On” to XTC sounding “Oh No” to funk/rock songs like “Danger for the Handicapped” and “I’m Hip”. As if that’s not enough there are upbeat and quirky songs like “Lucy the Dog” and “I Don’t Wanna Be in Trouble”. Just when I think there is a formula I hear progressive songs like “Only Son” and my favorite “Less Hate More Love”. Several years ago I caught one of Rick’s shows when his band opened for (and backed up) George Clinton from Parliament Funkadelic. I was amazed to see this white guy covering three octaves with his voice while at the same time playing a blistering guitar solo. There is no doubt that Kasim Sultan’s (Todd Rundgren, Utopia, Meat Loaf) influence can be heard throughout the entire record as he plays bass and sings on just about every song. He also produced the CD. I highly recommend this CD to anyone and can’t help but wonder when his next CD will be released. I have heard there are two more previously unreleased CD’s coming out by Christmas and new one in the spring.
- Music and More

In this time of big corporate radio and formula music, it is refreshing to find an artist who covers this much ground!

Sounding Rick’s voice reminds me of Burton Cummings from the Guess Who. The songs run the gamut from the Nirvana like “Turn You On” to XTC sounding “Oh No” to funk/rock songs like “Danger for the Handicapped” and “I’m Hip”.

As if that’s not enough there are upbeat and quirky songs like “Lucy the Dog” and “I Don’t Wanna Be in Trouble”. Just when I think there is a formula I hear progressive songs like “Only Son” and my favorite “Less Hate More Love”.

Several years ago I caught one of Rick’s shows when his band opened for (and backed up) George Clinton from Parliament Funkadelic. I was amazed to see this white guy covering three octaves with his voice while at the same time playing a blistering guitar solo.

There is no doubt that Kasim Sultan’s (Todd Rundgren, Utopia, Meat Loaf) influence can be heard throughout the entire record as he plays bass and sings on just about every song. He also produced the CD.

I highly recommend this CD to anyone and can’t help but wonder when his next CD will be released. I have heard there are two more previously unreleased CD’s coming out by Christmas and new one in the spring.
- CD Baby Review

In April, Rick Reynolds added a WK ID Controller for Steinberg Nuendo 3. “The combination has a very shallow learning curve,” Reynolds confides. “For our first project, Sounding Rick's Unstoppable, produced by Kasim Sulton — who in the past has played bass with Todd Rundgren and Meat Loaf — we mixed 13 songs in a remarkably short period of time. Because Kasim was on his way to Europe to act as Meat Loaf's musical director, we only had three-and-a-half days to mix an entire album.

“Thanks to the ID Controller's intuitive design, Kasim, my engineer Paul Williams and I quickly learned our way around the worksurface. Particularly helpful was the dedicated jog wheel, which provided lightning-fast access to edit functions.

“Kasim was very pleased with the ability to use the mix controller to dial in Nuendo EQ and plug-in settings. Automation was a breeze with the ID; imagine being able to automate several faders at once during one pass. On some mixes, we had two sets of hands automating faders, mutes, pans and even VST plug-ins. That would have been impossible with a mouse!

“Since many of the tracks were recorded over a period of 10 months, there were parts/ideas that had been forgotten. With some songs having 53 tracks — including 16 tracks of guitar — you could say this was a complicated project. By using the Group function, we were able to immediately locate any track within two moves. This was a real time-saver.”

- Mix Mgazine October 2005