Jeff Martin – Fool
Mascot Records – M7178 2 – 4 Apr 2006
by Ryan Starr
I’ve been sitting on this one for a while, partly due to the fact that I don’t really want to listen to it, but also because I’m not sure where I stand on the album. I don’t know why really, but this just gives me a blah feeling. The musicianship is solid, but I just can’t latch on to the music. But my personal feelings aside, I think this is something that many people can enjoy.
If you like the dirty side of traditional metal, this is right up your alley. Featuring guitarists Michael Schenker and Paul Gilbert, there is some serious star power behind this album, and they put their signature style into every song. This may be the albums downfall for me though. It sounds too ordinary and very emblematic of the style. So even though the music is quality, it’s nothing we haven’t heard a thousand times before.
Lastly, we must give credit to Martin for his superb drumming and his strong vocal abilities. However, I do think Martin tries to make his vocals sound dirtier than they need to be.
Overall, I don’t think this is a bad effort, but the fact that there is no attempt to bring something new to the classic style leaves me feeling bored and a little annoyed. Why rehash the same sound that we’ve heard for 20 years? There is always going to be an audience for this music, but let’s try and spice things up a bit.
Official Mascot Website
