Welcome to the EvO:R Independent CD Reviews Section.
I would like to take a few minutes to introduce ourselves to everyone. The EvO:R review section features reviews from various independent musicians that submit material for our consideration.

I wanted to let you know a little about our review teams collective thoughts on music. It's important to let the people that we review know how we think of their music and how we listened to their creations.

First of all, we strongly believe that if your music stinks then the world should know about it! After all, you have the nerve to charge as much for your stuff as the majors do so it better be pretty damn good. If your material is good, we'll be glad to tell the world. I We will hold nothing back! That is a promise.
The EvO:R CD Review Team

The Spectravox CD has been in my collection of CDs to review for a number of months. I typically like to listen to a CD 2-3 times before I write a review and I was simply overcome with requests for reviews that it took me 3-4 months just to get back to give this CD a second and third listen.

So let's get started.

Let's start with the CD cover which was a very interesting design.

The Spectavox CD cover features a collection of neatly arranged 45 RPM records. The actual artist information on each record was blured out on most of the 45's but the Decca label was visable on one record. The back cover art featured 3 stacks of old vintage analog stereo equipment stacked 4 and 5 units high. The collection looked like old fm tuners and pre-amps (I did not notice any turntables). As old as this gear was every piece of equipment looked brand new. It was almost like the picture came from an old stereo store or a garage sale from Wolfman Jacks old house. The band even went so far as to use a picture of old tubes for the background art on the inside of the CD cover.

The reason I went so far to paint this picture of the CD cover art and liner pages was because I thought that after the band went this far to present a world created in the late 50's to early 60's the music would have roots in Elvis or the Beatles or maybe even a taste of the Rolling Stones.
This CD presented nothing like that.

What Spectravox presented was more of an 80's Talking Heads meets early Elvis Costello. Even a touch of that typical college rock sound with the fast power chords and the balls to the wall additude. The sound was stripped down and simple by design. The guitarist (Bo Solomon) hardly changed a setting on his guitar from one song to the next. This left the overall band sound a bit boring over a 13 song set. Singer Sam Botts delivers a unique sound that is all his own. This is a good thing because the band can be easily recognized by the sound of his voice. So many singers try to copy the latest vocal fashion statement and loss their identity along the way. Not the issue with this singer.

Spectravox was formed in 2008 after much brainstorming by Bo Solomon and Jeff Boyes. "Sonically, we recorded this first album planning on NO solos (three crept in) or harmonies (one snuck in)" says band leader Bo Solomon. I wished the band would have tried to add more vocal harmonies while removing the guitar solos completely because Solomon is a great chord master but he is lacking in the guitar solo department. With that said, his solos did nothing to take anything away from the music as a whole.

One thing missing from this CD (and I find this all to often with indie CD's) was the one killer song that could identify the band. Kind of a signature song that everybody know within a few seconds once the song starts.


Overall: The CD was an enjoyable listen and if you like that signature Talking Heads sound or at one time you where into thin black ties, white shirts and Elvis Costello music you will really enjoy this CD.

Samples from the CD:


/She's My Angel /Rockbridge Train /I Can't Wait to Quit /Dennis Wilson/
/Mary Catherine Headley/ /Friday Always Come Around /Road Song/
/Liquor Store /I Won't Die Drunk /Four Big Guys in a Car /Tear It Up/
/Now My Feet Are On the Ground /What Was On the Radio? /

Conclusion:
Although the CD was lacking that one signature song I feel that the band gives the listener his/her monies worth. 13 good songs for $10. is a good deal. Not many CD's have 13 good songs on them. Today you are lucky to get 3-4 good songs and then you're stuck with 7 or 8 real ducks. Spectravox seems happy in their own skin and they didn't try to reinvent another art form with their sound. It's just good music about drinking, driving and loving. What else could we ever ask for?
Charlie Harrelson...EvO:R Reviewer.

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