Reviews of The Phantom Tollbooth

Catalyst
Artist: Speed of Life
Label: ©2007 Activesoundz

This New York-based band has created an album that crosses modern rock boundaries and definitions. There are elements of progressive and hard rock, fusion, reggae, electronic, ambient, arena sound, and Latin influences in this musical stew that work.

Together since 2001, Speed Of Life “…prides itself on its musicianship and creative integration of multiple genres.” Their first album, Mainstay (2004), had some college and commercial radio success. Catalyst, their sophomore release, finds a very mature and cohesive product. Very solid musicianship and solid songwriting skills are evident throughout.   I literally was impressed by what was pumping from my speakers! Lead vocalist, John Zay, has a vocal quality that would mix well in any progressive rock outfit. The music borders a lot on progressive, but doesn't go into sweeping orchestral numbers of the Flower Kings variety. All of the songs stay well grounded without becoming pretentious. This is just good rock music, and not the standard fare being offered the masses.

John Zay mainly wrote the lyrics with elements of surfing, relationship turmoil, and global warming (ala Al Gore-supporting) in a nutshell helping to formulate the project. All of those can cause introspection and fodder for musing. Not that mixing music and politics is wrong, but I’m just not sure where the writer stands at times. As a believer in God, I find myself not getting to the point, at times in my own writing. Maybe I missed something along the way. In spite of the dots not connecting, I see this being in regular rotation, which is a huge thing for the amount I listen to regularly. Check it out for yourself. It is worthy of several spins, if not just from the musical standpoint alone.

thecannyshark