CD Review: Rich Driver - Rich Driver

Rich Driver - Rich Driver
2008, Rich Driver

Sacramento, CA based singer/songwriter Rich Driver has released his debut album, entitled Rich Driver, in 2008. The songs here have been written over the past five years, and infuse alt-country, jazz and reggae into a traditional rock sound. Driver uses humor and adept songwriting to tackle issues pertaining to love, loss, the minutiae of day-to-day life and popular culture.

Rich Driver is not just a singer-songwriter; he is a performer. There is an effusive energy that one encounters with his self-titled debut. The disc is bright and warm with big jangly guitar, easy-on-the-ear vocals, and great melodies. The set opens with Holiday, and shows that Driver easily belongs in a class with elite singer-songwriters. Other highlights include Free Time, Messages and Don't Bother Me.

Rich Driver's self-titled debut is an absolute treat. Here's a place to find great rock songs in their simplest, unadorned form. The energy and musicality here is unusual for the recorded format, and suggests that Driver's live performances may be a must-see. Get your hands on this disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Rich Driver at www.myspace.com/richdriver. There is a link on his MySpace page to purchase downloads of the album. At this time I cannot locate any links to purchase a hard-copy CD. Keep checking his website to see if that changes.