Internal Monologue Review -- ||| Dave Smalley.com Message Central

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Subject: Internal Monologue Review

Author:
Andy, the Canadian

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Date Posted: 12:10:10 08/22/03 Fri

Well, I've had a good while to listen to this record...here is my review: SCALE 0-10

Overall: 8
Lyrics: 7
Melodies: 8
Harmonies and vocal arrangements: 9
Instruments/musicianship: 8.5
Catchiness:8.5
Production: 7.5

Song by song

1) Sooner or Later
Catchy as hell...awesome piano licks,(man, nobody plays like that anymore!!!) guitars tastey, including a great little solo thankfully doesn't play anything close to the melody!! Surprisingly clever bridge. Nice 12 string or is that a double-tracked 6?Only 2 down-sides to this song, Dave's voice is too back in the mix and the sax licks should have been given to the piano player or the guitar. The sax sounds like it comes from left field. Perhaps if it had been a Tenor Sax (as opposed to an alto or the tenor played an octave lower), it could have fit better. 8/10

2) Tell Me Girl: Definitely a sweet 12-string fill, Plus some flute harmony?...Pretty nice tune. I like the way the drums sound in the background...has a great LIVE sound as if coming from "The Ed Sullivan Show". What's with the Raspberries Bridge action?...ripped yourself off man??...LOL....7/10

3) Its Cold Outside: I have the advantage (or disadvantage) to never have heard this one before. I really like it. It's has a demo-like feel, but is record quality. I particularly like it because Dave's voice is right "in your face". Great accoustic ax sound too. Lyrics suffer on this one. Very british invasion. 7/10

4) Bad Blood:
Cowbell!! Bring it on baby!! This is Dave all the way!! Chorus just stays in your head. Band lacks little punch...doesn't do justice to the kick-ass song it is. Great guitar solo again!! Harmony vocals almost all the way throughout the tune...brilliant!...Bass playing is exceptionally music...(sounds like something I would play!!) Nice touch on the tag finale hoot Dave...oooooohoowooo! Best line in the whole album on this one "you're a one woman wrecking crew"...you can't pay to have someone write a line that good...8/10

5) Born in the Country
What a tune!...Just beautiful..Dave, I could listen to this one all day. I think this is the best song you have ever written (those of yours I have heard) Gosh, The worse could be happening to me and this song would make me smile. Again the piano is luscious (Brian Barham?...Thanks buddy)this song is a hit and should be on every country station right now! Love the "I-17" line...you paint wonderous pictures throughout this one Dave. And thank-you for changing the beat pattern when hitting the chorus it makes totally hits the spot! 10/10

6) Something I could Say:
Dave, you have to kiss your piano player...he's a percussionist!...Knockout Chorus!...this one is swimming in my head all day!...Vocals are so sweet on this one...again a tasty guitar solo. The outro just kicks!...Nice falsetto Dave!...Another hit this one! 10/10

7) Restless
Again, I have never heard this tune till now. Dave, your vocal is wonderful on this one. A real heartbreaker. Steel guitar?...How cool is that!...Bridge double vocal/duet is perfect!...I'm sure DS (weird huh?same as your initials Dave-O)would have loved it! Love the country ending too!
7.5/10

8)They Grow Up
Gee Dave, I'm sure you had a hard time singing this one without crying?...You say it all in lyric and in melody. Drums could have been better arranged. I have a feeling they were added AFTER the other tracks were done. Wonderful interweaving on the vocals. 7/10

9)Someone to Shine For
Woodblocks?...gotta love that stuff! Very Laid-back tune. Here the Sax just lights up the whole song! The electric piano is too cool as well. Probably the best instrumentally arranged tune. Happening chorus with lush harmonies.
Dave, on the outro "Somebody to LOVE"...on the "Loooove", I think you could have pitched that note up a tad!..(I am such a stickler!)7.5/10

10) Warrior at Rest
Mandolin gives a Gypsy-like sound to this song...violin too?...A real tribute song. Another song from the heart. Fine lyrics. Eerie sounding...or is that Erie? 7/10

11)Someone like you
Great song!...Been listening to this since the "Refreshed" release. Sweet top voice on the chorus vocal intro. Snazzy guitar. Thanks for this little gem Dave. fine choice for the last song on the CD. 8/10

That's it!

Anyone wanting to blast me for this review , please send me an email anytime!

Well worth the wait Dave. Congratulations on a fabulous record.

Andy Dor�, Montreal

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Re: Internal Monologue Review	mike smolik	01:10:44 08/24/03 Sun
Mike...nice review...believe me the more you listen to the CD, the more it grows on you... -- Andy, 06:12:32 08/25/03 Mon