Review Summary: Turning Stones is the powerful debut album by singer/guitarist Christopher Shayne from Phoenix, Arizona whose efforts and personal zeal seam to be done justice judging by the result.
Turning Stones is the powerful debut album by singer/guitarist Christopher Shayne from Phoenix, Arizona whose efforts and personal zeal seam to be done justice judging by the result.
Old school enthusiasm, with the seal and recipes of 70's Blues-hard rock groups. Nostalgic and adventurous. Cheerful and melancholic. Simple and easy listening, but pompous at times without becoming tiring, not even for a moment. Full of contradictions like life itself. It's groovy and never gets overloaded with lengthy solos and long songs.
The influences exist just like a reminder, like a raw magic formula, for the simple reason that they are not copying their influences but they use them with a special, intelligent way having as result the creation of an alloy with its own personality, mood and sound.
Blues and country, even bluegrass are underlying throughout the whole album, both musically and lyrically, providing the starting yeast, a stable, authentic musical base. Combining all that with American Southern-hard rock bands like Outlaws, Black Crows, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Widespread Panic and -of course the absolute Boogie rockers ZZ Top, and bands like the grunge rockers Soundgarden and Alice in Chains to the Californian hard-rockers Buckcherry.
I am convinced that this album here is an absolute must have for all the fans of the genre. After you've finished listening to it you are overpowered by a sweet sensation of freedom and enthusiasm, for the album has that trippy feel to it. These songs could easily feature on 'Sons of Anarcy' 's soundtrack!
Christopher Shayne and his pals really know how to create songs that get stuck in your mind without trying to sound pop or radio friendly. A dynamic and stable voice, nice catchy choruses, and a production that really matches the genre.
Turning Stones is the powerful debut album by singer/guitarist Christopher Shayne from Phoenix, Arizona whose efforts and personal zeal seam to be done justice judging by the result.
