Reviews of the It's Only Roy CD



"I love everything about this CD. It's Only Roy lovingly captures the spirit of the music we love, without overtly apeing it."
- Jeffrey Foskett, Vocalist and Guitarist with Brian Wilson

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Crawdaddy! CD review By Matthew Greenwald

I get a lot of CD's in the mail, and it's not as much of a bonanza as you might think. It seems that I tend to spend as much time sorting CD's than I do listening. I'll be perfectly frank here and all apologies to the nice folks that send me stuff over half of the discs I get end up getting traded in or given to friends. It can be a daunting task, going through all of this stuff, but one that it ultimately rewarded when I come across a record a great as this.

"It's Only Roy" (formerly known as Grown Men) is a pop/rock duo consisting of Rick Bell and Michael Lanning. Both are veterans of the professional songwriting wars, having collectively and individually written songs for Dave Edmonds, The Stray Cats, French pop singer Sylvia Vartan, as well as providing songs for a host film and television projects, and some of these cinematic achievements are better not mentioned here.

But original music and recording and producing their own songs is clearly the duo's appointed destiny. This album is filled with musical references that will be familiar to the Crawdaddy! family: The Beatles and The Beach Boys are two obvious influences. However, "It's Only Roy's" music is for more than being revisionist. A strong sense of virtue, strength of spirit and a life-affirming bent surrounds all of the songs here, and it's damned inspiring. This, friends, is music that speaks of the politics of the present tense.

With all of that said and although comparisons may indeed be a short cut to thinking there are some obvious musical influences that must be discussed and celebrated here. Most importantly, Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. Throughout many of the songs, especially "I Still Believe In Love" and the pointlessly fun "Downtown California" It's Only Roy stirs up virtually dozens of Wilson and the Boys musical motifs, some obvious, but many delightfully obscure. Then there's the out-and-out Carl Wilson memorial, "Gentle Soul", which takes quotes from "Feel Flows", Dennis Wilson's awesomely underrated "Pacific Ocean Blue", and even some gorgeous "Smile" - inspired soundscapes. The song pays tribute to Carl Wilson beautifully without resorting to cloying, overly-sentimental statements. Like "For What It's Worth", it succeeds precisely due to it's sense of understatement. The song segues into a sickeningly beautiful surf instrumental, "Sea Dream".

This mini-medley provides the heart of the album, but my favorite track is "It's Alright", a solid, life-enhancing, Beatles-inspired rocker that is one of the most uplifting four minutes of pop to be released in recent memory. There are many other fabulous moments on this album, and I'll leave you to the joy of discovery.

Now, due to the overwhelming wisdom of the major record label mentality, you may have some difficulty finding this album at your record store. However, I'll point you in the right direction: check out the band's website: www.ItsOnlyRoy.com , where you can order it directly. You need this album.

©2001 Matthew Greenwald

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The average person usually wakes up each morning to face a day pretty much like the one before. Nothing really out of the ordinary. Nothing that special. Rather routine. But every once in a while, something happens along the course of a random given day that puts a smile on your face and makes you happier than you would have ordinarily been. And if that something is really extra special, then that happiness has a chance to carry over into the next day and perhaps even into the week ahead. And it's always better if you don't wake up looking for it or expecting it. It's much more rewarding if it hits you by surprise. A surprise that gives you one of those true warm and fuzzy feelings you so often hear about. I experienced exactly that the other day when I went to my mailbox to discover that I was in receipt of the "It's Only Roy" CD. Now mind you, one of the primary things in life that usually does it for me is a great new album. The kind you fall in love with immediately. The type that doesn't require multiple listenings in order to "grow on you".

I've been anticipating the release of this album ever since the webmistress of the Civil War website e-mailed me and told me that if I like old Beatles and Beach Boys, then I'm sure to like this album. In the month or so since that e-mail, I would think about it every so often. I'd think to myself, "Okay guys, give me something that'll rekindle fond old memories, but at the same time give me something original too. Make it hook-laden and catchy, make it melodious, give me some real good singing and playing, and give me good song writing while you're at it. Damned if they didn't deliver on all counts!

If you're lucky, you only get one or two albums a year that make you wanna play it again immediately after you've finished listening to it the first time. This is one such album. It is so rich and meaty, it's like a gourmet meal AND the dessert all rolled into one.

From the very first track my mind started racing. I couldn't decide what to reflect on first; the fact that the hook contained in the chorus of "Yes, Yes, Yes" reminded me of the hook in The Police's "Invisible Sun", or trying to recall who Rick Bell's singing reminded me of. I knew instantly that I'd heard that voice before. Or at least one that sounded awfully close. Was it Eric Carmen? John Waite maybe? I don't think it was Nilsson. Maybe it was Tears For Fears-like. I'm thinking maybe a British artist. I came away convinced that it sounded just like a voice from the past but I just couldn't put my finger on it. Drove me absolutely crazy. Some day it'll come to me. But for now it's Rick Bell, and his is a mighty comfortable voice to settle into. Rick spends a considerable amount of time on this album paying homage to the singing style of John Lennon. And that's just the beginning of Beatle influences.

They waste no time introducing Beatlesque harmonies and even a George Harrison-like guitar solo on "Yes, Yes, Yes". Scattered throughout the album are plenty of Beatle trademarks: dark piano chords, backward drumming, Fab Four harmonies, special effects such as running the tape backwards, a slide guitar, string quartets, kaleidoscopic overtones---it's all there. And it's all tastefully done. Check out the end of "I'm Not You", a song which Michael Lanning of Civil War fame sings the hell out.

I thought for sure John Lennon came back to life to write "A House Isn't Always A Home" which is done very much in the style of the two most recent Beatle tunes, "Real Love" and "Free As A Bird". The song itself is hauntingly beautiful, replete with a rich textured orchestration. And like Lennon & McCartney often did, Rick shares the lead vocals on this one with Michael. A true highlight of the disc is this very track, although the album contains no lowlights whatsoever.

When "It's Only Roy" first began, I thought I was listening to "Strawberry Fields" ending. But it was just the intro. Holy cow! They even threw in a sitar here, another Beatle signature. And more George-like guitar here as well.

Along about this point in the album I was thinking, "Okay, you guys can do Beatles real well. Got any Beach Boys? Well low and behold, along comes track # 5, "I Still Believe In Love". Wait til you hear the harmonies here. The song itself reminds me of The Beach Boys' *Brother* years in the early to mid 70's. In fact, Michael sounds like a Beach Boy on this track. And on track 7, "Gentle Soul", he manages to pull off sounding like a combination of Carl and Brian Wilson. The likeness is uncanny. "Gentle Soul" is actually a tribute to the late Carl Wilson and it's just gorgeous. If you don't get chills listening to it, then you got a hole in yours.

"It's Alright" has got some of those piano riffs and backward drumming I was talkin' about earlier. I tell ya, these 2 guys, Rick and Michael, grew up listening to the best, that much is obvious.

"Sea Dream" is an instrumental that takes the listener to a peaceful beautiful sunset at a picturesque seacoast setting on a summer's evening. This song is as adorable as "Ringo's Theme" (an instrumental version of "This Boy") Anyone wanna make out in the back seat? You might find yourself wanting to make love to the instruments used on this track. They don't make em' any prettier than this.

"Downtown California" is a prime piece of good old rock 'n roll. Michael shines vocally on this one. A good ole toe tappin', ass shakin' rocker if there ever was one.

As you go through this album, you become cognizant of how "full" it sounds. Kudos are in order to the production effort. The hard work is evident throughout.

"She Said, She Said"? Nope. It's "She Gives Me Something" with it's psychedelic Beatles beginning. This is a remarkable song in that it brings The Beatles AND The Beach Boys together on the same track, alternating back and forth between the two. I especially like the deep hollow bongo or whatever that percussion instrument is they're using here. It's the same one that made "Caroline, No" so effective.

"Window To Change" is my favorite Michael Lanning sung track on the album. Very easy to get hooked on this one. Daaa-dot-da-daa. Daaa-dot-da-daa.

"Cry Myself To Sleep" is just the type of song the slide guitar was made for. And it's another very beautiful song. As I said before, there are no stiffs on this album.

Right to the very end, It's Only Roy never let you forget The Beatles. On the last track, "Where In The World", they bring in the string quartet and the alarm clock. On the very last studio album The Beatles ever recorded together, "Abbey Road", there is a long gap between what appears to be the last song and a little 20 second piece called "Her Majesty". Well, wouldn't you know it? After "Where In The World", there's a few moments of silence before they come back with a slow "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" sounding kaleidoscope of sounds that bring It's Only Roy to it's close.

It's Only Roy is a full and complete listening experience. And utterly enjoyable. I personally think it's a masterpiece. And even though it's only March, I already know that come the end of the year, this album is making my list of best albums of the year. I really hope we haven't heard the last of these two dudes. In It's Only Roy, Rick Bell & Michael Lanning have a fabulous, fabulous album.

Quay

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Sitting at my computer with headphones on listening to my anxiously awaited copy It's Only Roy. I have my copy since Thursday and am able to sit down with it now and give it my honest thoughts. I have listened to it in several ways so far. First once entirely through. The second time I listened to the website clips to get the complete effect of them. Now with headphones on I am already able to sing along with the lyrics and I am familiar with the music finding myself humming it or singing it throughout my day since I gave my first listen.

The first track catches you right off from the first notes bringing you into a rock Beatles flavor that is reminiscent of the late great John Lennon and perhaps a twist of the new bloodline of Lennon in his son Julian. The beat has my bopping and thinking of the real roots of music where lyrics told you something and the music made it stick. The vocals on this CD as a whole are crisp and just the right amount of rock quality gravel to sell it home. It also at appropriate moments gives you that smooth feeling like you are on a moonlit beach with a sweetheart.

"A House Isn't Always A Home" has a melodic quality and one that hypnotizes. It gives you the feel of a walk by yourself on the beach after a long relationship falls apart and you need your quiet time to gather yourself back to you. The feel of the "Beach Boy's" is very present in the music here. "It's only Roy" again goes back to the roots of good rock n roll the kind of stuff that "The Police" would do and the presence of the Beatles influence is right in the foreground.

This is the kind of CD that you want to take along wherever you go. This CD makes you want to have it on in the car, when you are at home, or on the headphones. I am not really of the "Beach Boy's" generation as far as my age is concerned. What is a generation though? My first influences of music were the things my parents would listen to. I long to have been from that time. A time when you could hear the lyrics and remember the music long after the song had ended. To have come from an era before this and still have a good beat and great honest hard working musicians without the benefit of a huge studio synthetic sound on a mixing board. That is like a bit of heaven to me. This CD conveys all of that. It is a moment out of the past and the sound of the future music longed secretly by many to be heard again only in need of revitalization. It is time for that here everything can come back especially when it never really left to begin with only receded a little.

I think that my personal favorite has to be "Downtown California". This song does Carl Wilson proud all the way to the netherworld. There is a happy man in heaven.

"Do you think of me" makes you remember a lost love and wonder where they are now. Lending a sincere reflection of a sincere heart through the lyrics to the CD. I mean everyone has love lost right? It brings your thoughts home to you.

"She gives me something" as pointed out by my second self Kat puts me in mind of "Pink Floyd's" song from "The Wall", Comfortably numb".

"Window to change" I have to add a small personal note here. The lyrics to this song are I think the highlight of this CD for me. It sort of mirrors some of my personal life right now. It gives me tiny extra special warmth for Michael where this track is concerned.

"Cry myself to sleep" is soft and sweet and makes you want to look out the window on a rainy day and just watch the rain streak down on your window making you feel a little less melancholy. The lyrics are very thought provoking here. All in all though I have not touched specifically upon each song this CD as a whole is worth every note and lyric.

If I had to choose one track to sell it to the world I think it would be "Downtown California" or perhaps "It's Only Roy". All of the songs on this CD could launch this it to the foreground as the CD holds its own in all of its content. When thinking in terms of the rest of the world I think these are good first runner choices.

Anyway I have gone on forever. Rick & Michael thank you for being in it for the long haul. Good things do come to those who wait! I am at your service. Anything to get this airplay within my power I will do for this CD and you guys.

Peace! Angel Hart/Gloria