Blink
Rick Elias's skills have been much in demand recently -- he wrote and recorded several of the songs on the soundtrack of Tom Hanks's That Thing You Do and produced, among others, Split Level's acclaimed new release glo.bal. Rick describes this album as "a collection of 'demos' of varying quality," and it is an interesting snapshot of his current focus as a solo musician. The instrumental duties are mainly handled by Rick himself with some assistance from his wife, Linda, Phil Madeira, Scott Rogness, Bob Sale, and Reggie Hamm. Rick is primarily a guitarist, and the guitar is the main instrument on this record although it is joined by bass, drums, Hammond organ, and harmonica. The guitar tones are mainly fairly simple but effective. There is some use of distortion, but not much, and while there is some use made of guitar solos, the main emphasis is on the songs. The music is best described as plain rock and roll -- there are signs of roots influences and also a nod of the head towards the work Rick did for That Thing You Do. But, the album still retains a contemporary edge. The lyrics are extremely honest and well focused, Rick is obviously a well thought-through person, and his intelligent approach to the Christian life shows here. The second track, 'God Inc.,' is an interesting example of Rick's approach - it appears to be the story of a Christian businessman who loses track of his priorities -- Rick has admitted in interviews that this song is at least partly autobiographical.
When you hold all the aces And there ain't no time for those friends and places That you once knew But you outgrew Add a pinch of ambition And a little dash of power Mix it up with opportunity And there you are A more acoustic track is 'Man Of No Reputation,' a track that takes a poignant look at Jesus. The track is musically composed of just Rick's vocals, an acoustic guitar, and a harmonica and it has a gritty beauty to it.
Was of no reputation Yet he could stop A rising storm With a gesture of his hand But he chose to use His hands to heal Hearts of darkness Hearts of stone Just like mine Would be revealed One point worth noting is that the US version of this album contains one song, 'Pilgrims,' which isn't included on the European version that I have. When I heard the origin of this album I wasn't expecting very strong production. I was wrong -- it manages to sound well-produced and yet retain some of the rawness of its demo origins. By James Stewart
The songs of Blink were never meant to be shared. After being burned twice by tepid response to his recordings, Rick Elias worked behind-the-scenes in Christian music to support his family as a producer, writer, and side-man. Over the years, late at night, he'd create a little, just for himself. The result is a series of songs that might find a home in the roots rock or alternative country genres, or with any respectable group of singer/songwriters that aren't afraid of electric guitars. A rich bed of keyboard chords and Phil Madeira 's loopy concertina, a host of guitars and backup singers subtly support Elias's world-weary, world-wise tenor crooning. This album returns to the grittiness of the first one, Rick Elias and the Confessions, but it's a more intentional, well-produced, carefully controlled grittiness, using the stronger production evident on his second album, Ten Confessions, to better effect. Like 6'4" Elias himself, Blink is an angular, ungainly collection of unpredictable numbers, very likeable despite their rough edges.-----Linda T. Stonehocker
|
