First off, the first real electric guitar I ever owned was a telecaster. It was blond with a maple finger board. I remember getting a chizzle and opening up a space for a humbucker pickup because I wanted a little more beef from my sound. I later made enough money touring to afford a Les Paul so the tele was tuned to a wierd tuning DADABE and used for the opening song of our live set. No guitar sounds like a tele!

Mike Ian takes this timeless instrument and proves that the tele is not just your classic Country Crossover guitar. He takes the listener through a tour de force range of this fine instrument. It's also comforting to note that Mike can really sing.

Every song on Puzzle Pieces has to potential to be an Alternative/Country, New Country or Rock Alternative hit song. Simply stated, there are NO fillers in this pie.

One of my biggest issues with many indie artists is the fact that they rearly put their best song first. Because the artist is not well known I have always contended that the first song should ALWAYS be the artists BEST song. I say this because a reviewer or label owner has to make some snap judgements and a slow laboriuos opening song is grounds for instant failure. Mike Ian did not fail. 'Ticket to the Moon' is an amazing opening song. Reminds me of an earlier Joe Walsh type tune but Mike's vocals are worlds better.

What kind of surprised me was the fact that the title song 'Puzzle Pieces' was probably the weekest offering on the whole CD (and it was pretty good). I simply can't find anything to complain about. This was a great CD with well written songs played by quality musicians and sang by vocalist's that can sing to pitch.

The CD was produced by Mike Ian. Recorded and mastered at Eyeball Studios. I was really shocked when I looked at the studio credits because the CD sounded so good that I expected a full crew and multiple studios working on this project. Mike is as talented with the headphones on working the board as anyone around. The instruments all seemed to be placed precisely within the soundstage. The drums never overpowered the vocals or muddied any instrument. The songs all had that open, fresh sound that comes from using mic placement first and compression only when needed.

This CD covers the Country Cross-over and the Alternative Rock with a twang flair. Mike has an amazing voice and is a wonderful guitar player. Check out the last song 'tele chicken pickin' if you want to here mike make his tele sing.

I only have 5 stars to give but I'll hold none of them back. This CD is a full 5 Star offering.