The New Czars - Doomsday Revolution

The New Czars - Doomsday Revolution
2010, Samson Records

The New Czars have spent significant parts of their careers supporting other artists. Various members have spent time working with Alice Cooper, Puddle Of Mudd, Bruce Dickinson, Courtney Love, Lita Ford and Pink. Now singer/guitarist Greg Hampton, bassist Paul Ill and drummer David “Chilli” Moreno have stepped out on their own as The New Czars. Over time working with artists, the men of The New Czars started developing some of their own musical ideas. These ideas come to fruition on September 14, 2010 with the release of Doomsday Revolution.

Doomsday Revolution opens with "Keep On Goin'", a heavy rocker toward the crevice between mainstream alt-rock and Nine Inch Nails. The energy is solid, and there is a catchy hook or two buried in the sound but in the end it sounds a bit contrived. "Confessions" has more of the breakneck approach you might expect from The New Czars; driven and powerful rock and roll with no apologies and no punches pulled. "So Sure" is commercially viable heavy rock with a heavily pop-oriented chorus. It's product that will sell but doesn't necessarily reflect high quality songwriting. "Abstract Prague" is a cut-and-paste rock instrumental allowing guitarist Hampton to create some aural chaos. Full of riffs, runs and noises with little sense of progression, melody or continuity, its guitar-players self-indulgence. "Doomsday Revolution" is the catchiest track on the disc; falling closer to 1980's MTV hair metal than modern rock. "Doomsday Revolution" lacks any pretension and is the more enjoyable track on the disc for its lack. The New Czars close out with two instrumentals, "Funky Detour" and "Crotch Critters" that attest to the bands sense of sound over song.

The New Czars make a couple of real attempts at music with commercial legs on Doomsday Revolution, but generally fall into the musical cauldron where unguided self-interest and a lack of distinct musical direction meet. The result is an unfocused and surprisingly un-inspired performance. The loosest moment comes on the title track when The New Czars let their hair down and pay homage to their roots in early-1980's pop/metal, but even here there's a detachment that is somewhat frustrating. The New Czars seem to have talent, but still seem so fascinated with what they can do with their instruments to really explore how. Things will get more interesting once they make that transition.

Rating: 2 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about The New Czars at www.myspace.com/thenewczars or http://www.greghampton.com/. Doomsday Revolution drops on September 14, 2010.  You can pre-order the CD from Amazon.com.

Review: Benjamin R - The Other Side Of Nowhere

Benjamin R - The Other Side Of Nowhere
2009, Benjamin R

Robert Selvaggio plies his musical trade under the name Benjamin R, these days. The Florida native is a singer/songwriter who took a professional detour into the production booth after an Indie release he boarded got significant praise for its sound. One thing led to another and before he knew what was happening Selvaggio was producing projects for the likes of Jewel, Eagle Eye Cherry and Puddle Of Mudd. After seven years in production, Benjamin R decided to take a step back, build his own studio and work on his own material. Aside from an ill-fated snow boarding trip that ended in a broken wrist, Benjamin R worked tirelessly to produce The Other Side Of Nowhere, a collection of 11 of the many songs he's written over the years.

Benjamin R reminds me of an extremely mellow version of The Cars' Ric Ocasek crossed with late-career Tom Petty, in a mish-mash of slick geek pop crossed with grizzly Pop/Americana. The Other Side Of Nowhere makes a very slow start, not really hitting stride until the fifth song. Not Gonna Let You Go grabs the listener with a catchy Americana arrangement with distinctive Pop hooks. Benjamin R keeps it up with Fool Myself and its vaguely urgent emotional qualities. Time Is Running Out brings to mind some of George Harrison's more Pop-oriented Folk/Rock. Benjamin R hits the heights on I Don't Need This Anymore and This Time (I Hope You're Happy). The two songs could track the same relationship at different stages, with Benjamin R realizing he just can't stay in this relationship anymore in the former, and recapturing that realizing after falling off the relationship wagon some time later in This Time. Letter has a couple of awkward moments lyrically, but has a distinctive Celtic/British feel that will draw you in.

Benjamin R spent a lot of time producing music for others, knowing that an outsider can often find the hidden gems in music that the folks who write it and live with it can't always see. Like many producers he may not feel this applies to him, leading him to produce his own album. While Benjamin R is well-renowned behind the boards, a doctor should never treat himself and a producer should never self-produce his own solo-effort. There are some strong songs here (particularly the second half of the album), but the lack of creative tension leaves some of that potential in the studio instead of bring it out on The Other Side Of Nowhere. It's a decent album in its own right; I was just left with an impression that it could have been much more.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Benjamin R at http://www.benjaminrmusic.com/. You can purchase The Other Side Of Nowhere as either a CD or a download at www.cdbaby.com/cd/benjaminr.