Take Care of Me ­ The Rise and Fall of $am
Artist: Rick Altizer
http://www.rickaltizer.com
Label: Fuseic (indie)
Length: 15 tracks / 49:59

Rick Altizer is a masterful pop/rock alchemist, transforming the basic building blocks of the music we grew up on into gold. After way too long an absence, Altizer is back on the scene with a rock concept album that features his unmistakable signature sound in an allegory that works on a purely human level as well as a broader, more societal (even national) level as well. This amazing artist, whose last project managed to take scripture, put it to Beatles-influenced pop music, and make it not only palatable but downright fun (remember ­ I called him a pop/rock alchemist), has now produced an album with little scriptural reference (at least to the casual listener) other than an oblique kinship to the stoic fatalism of Ecclesiastes.

But don't worry ­ it's still rock and roll.

Take Care of Me ­ The Rise and Fall of $am is in the tradition of the rock opera concept/trend most often associated with The Who's Tommy, or Pink Floyd's The Wall, but is a more modest, streamlined production than Townsend's magnum opus and not angry enough to make you want to tear down any walls, unless they're walls in your own heart. Altizer, a multi-instrumentalist and amazing vocalist, not only plays every instrument (except the drums, which were ably handled by Steve Ferrone, Chris McHugh, and Todd Sorensen) but also wrote the words and music in a couple of marathon late-night sessions. The result is a big idea executed in a personal, intimate sounding classic rock style full of memorable songs, great hooks, infectious vocals and often haunting word-pictures. 

                           ...We built a dream, built this machine / Nothing stands in my way
                            The gravy train is rolling now / Aint’ this a beautiful day...” - “Star 

Although the story deals with the rise, corruption and eventual fall of an 'unnamed' nation (the main character does tell us, in the end, that his name is Sam ­ draw your own conclusions), the more personal story is the birth, life, corruption, and death of a human being. Literally starting off with the sound of a heartbeat, the story, track by track, takes us through birth (“Hello World”), the seeking of protection and security (“Don't Let Me Cry”), the demand for entitlement (“Feed Me”), the progression from excess, greed and arrogance into self-absorption, narcissism (“I Want my Whatever” and “What Can You do for Me”), the achievement of success (“Star”), domination through the abuse of power (“Feed Me ­ reprise”), and the eventual downward slide from addiction (“More”) to desperation, disillusionment (“Is That It?”), need (“Take Care of Me”) and ­ ultimately ­ fear and hopelessness (“Assisted” and “Goodbye World”). 

Despite the gravitas of the subject matter, Altizer delights us with wonderfully-crafted pop music with a proggish rock edge, heavily influenced by The Beatles' Abbey Road period - “Feed Me,” for instance, recalls Lennon's “I Want You (She's So Heavy)” by capturing the ominous feeling of the ascending bass line yet creating a song that is purely Altizer's own: an homage, yes ­ but not an imitation. The vocals are appealing and non-threatening ­ never over-the-top or grandiose but nestled in rich harmonies and deftly-dealt phrasing. Altizer handles everything from the acoustic setting of “Don't Let Me Cry” to the heavy mock-live rock of  the angry “Is That It?” The bass and keyboards fill their respective rolls nicely and the drum playing is definitely of the Ringo Starr / BJ Wilson variety.

Before ending once again with the sound of a heartbeat (this time at the end of life instead of the start), Altizer points out the futility of thinking that one can really control his own destiny, in one of the project's most poignant and impressive songs ­ the nightmare-waltz, “Assisted.”

             Hey, where am I now / Can you tell me, who are you / How did I get here / I think I forgot my name

Memories come to me In tiny bits and pieces / It hurts too much to think / It hurts too much to think ...Can somebody tell me my name / How did I get here / I must have been / Assisted...” 

The overriding message here is the danger of arrogance and the development of a sense of entitlement. When all is said and done, and the only thing left is an 'assisted living' situation, Big Brother isn't really a brother at all. Altizer delivers the message in his best rock and roll style, playing some of the catchiest riffs since his Blue Plate Special gave us “Make a Monkey.”

Take Care of Me ­ The Rise and Fall of $am comes highly recommended. You can here samples and order this excellent project (at a bargain price) at www.rickaltizer.com.

            ...Hey, I live in America / The land where dreams come true
           I want my whatever / So what’s it to you...” - “I Want My Whatever 

Bert Saraco
http://www.myspace.com/expressimage