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Having suffered heavy IZZ withdraws; my addiction is once again full blown with no recovery program in plain view.  IZZ (after nearly three years (I don’t count Ampersand as it was a B-side/rarities deal) between albums) have released My River Flows, a full album of new material and energy.  My River Flows does not disappoint and it is in my top five albums of 2005/2006. 

What is most noticeable on this release is the definitive evolution to their sound.  Their signature vocals and arrangements are echoed in the background and a new ethereal lushness augments the additional vocals of Anmarie Byrnes and Laura Meade.  The opening/title track immediately grabs the listener with crispy, dissonant guitar and AM radio vocals.  The middle instrumental break is phenomenal!  Fripp-esque patterns are aflutter with a great lead synth and discordant guitars.  Dynamically, this song is all over the map, straight forward rock, brash punk and complex virtuoso rhythms provide the skeleton to this exciting icebreaker.  “Late Night Salvation” has one of the best guitar riffs to have been written.  A mover and a shaker, this tune features the fine guitarwork of Paul Bremmer ­ in your face at times and lightly flitting on your nose the next, I was very impressed with his musicality.  Tom Galgano’s vocals are crystal and pristine in both real and falsetto voicings.  In the solo section (yes, Bremmer is still great) what struck me the most was the tight and in concert relationship of drum team Greg DiMiceli/Brian Coralian and bassist John Galgano.  The even have the co hones to add a drum solo in the tune!  While normally this would be a non-value add to any non-live production, it is massively appropriate here as it adds to the tension and release of the song.  Yes-like harmonies adorn the “acoustic” section of the song while guitar and lead synth solos scamper about.  The track getting some airplay is “Anything I Can Dream” with an apparent nod to the matchless essence of The Beatles.  Piano driven, this is the most straight forward composition on the CD.  A pop-lovers delight, “Anything I Can Dream” moves and grooves to it’s hopeful message.  I am a sucker for songs written for band member’s children as my favorite song is their most sparse tune on the album ­ “Abby’s Song” employs awesome acoustic and electric guitar to fortify the beautiful lyrics of praise and hope for a child loved.  The guitar harmonics play at the end of the song is inspiring.  The CD finishes with the epic “Deafening Silence.”  A “to-the-brim" instrumental highlights the bands skills and songwriting expertise, giving way to ebb and flow vocals from Byrnes and Meade.  This tune of spiritual question and redemption makes very appealing to the Christian prog group as it’s message offers a positive and hopeful picture.  Grand in composition, yet simple in the aural picture they seek to create, IZZ saves their best for last using the Byrnes/Meade female voices to add the missing element to their evolutionary sound.

IZZ's literal and auditory sounscapes certainly leave one in a great mood!  My River Flows should bring IZZ to new audiences, fans and hopefully support.  A great band made better with Byrnes/Meade and a commitment to push the envelope musically.  More info: http://www.izznet.com

Jon Rice  1/25/2006