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Non-Prog CD Reviews

Marsden

Tune It Out

Review by Gary Hill

This is quite an interesting album. It sits firmly in the alternative rock zone, but there is a good range within. There's not a weak track here, but some definitely stand taller than others. This flows well and has enough variety to keep it interesting from start to finish. It also feels so genuine.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2022  Volume 6. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2022.

Track by Track Review
End on End
There are some psychedelic angles to the sounds that create the introduction here. The tune works out to a melodic alternative rocker from there. This has a good flow and some classy hooks along with a lot of charm. There are definitely some country angles to this, particularly on the guitar soloing.
Tune it Out
This is faster paced and has a lot of fury to it. There is a real punky edge to it. This is such a strong song. Then again, you expect that from a title track. Everything about this just works so well. It's edgy, but also catchy. The instrumental section has so much melodic hard rocking class.
In This Zoo

 There's a cliché that says that the third track on a metal album is always a ballad. Well, this isn't a metal album, but this tune is a balladic one. It has some hints of psychedelia built into it along with moody alternative rock. It drives out to some hard rocking stuff around the half-way mark. After a vocal movement in that mode, we are taken into an instrumental section that seems to merge proggy concepts with glam rock. That gives way to a return to the hard rocking vocal movement. Then the number drops back down to the sedate zones to continue. That mode finishes the song in fine bookmark fashion.

Doubt
Coming in hard rocking and edgy, the introduction rocks out like crazy. It drops back to more stripped back, but still edgy, movement for the entrance of the vocals. This is an evocative and dramatic alternative rocker that does a great job of alternating between those two modes while still evolving the song. A dropped back instrumental section later has some Latin styled guitar in the background while. electric guitar weaves slow, but powerful lines of melody over the top.
Running in the Dark
Another energized tune, this has a real drive and power to it. There is a punky edge, yet it also drops back at times. While I wouldn't consider this a standout, that's more about the strength of some of the other music than attributed to any deficiency in this song.
Obvious
I love the energy and hooks on this cut. It's more of a catchy alternative rocker with some hints of grunge. While not the meatiest thing here, this is one of the most accessible. This is the kind of thing that would work well on the radio. I love the guitar interplay on the closing instrumental section.
Pocket
Coming in with a moodier sound with understated vocals, this fires out nicely on the choruses. It's a cool rocker with a good dynamic range and a lot of style.
Hello
Picked acoustic guitar brings this into being. The cut feels out as a mellow balladic number. This instrumental builds and evolves nicely, while still remaining mellower. It has some rather crunchy guitar over-top at points, and almost feels proggy.
American Dream
This also starts with acoustic guitar. It builds upward to more of a rocker, but it's a gradual and somewhat slow change. This remains more of a power-ballad in some ways. There is some particularly tasty guitar soloing on the closing instrumental movement that almost turns proggy in some ways. There are parts of that closing section that feel backwards tracked.
Fruitless
Starting sedate and slow moving, this is very much a mood post-prog kind of thing. This instrumental piece is an unusual, but effective, way to end the album.
 
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