Jimmy Byron - Transition - New release review

I just received the newest release (April 15, 2016), Transition, from Jimmy Byron and it's quite good. Opening with a classic drum riff tied to The Shangri-Las of the early 60's but with takes a hard turn with traces of the Who, Zappa and Lou Reed. Chris Staig on lead guitar lays out some really outrageous riffs joined by Mitchell Thompson on bass and Josh Hicks on drums. Excellent! It's Sad has a very cool early 60's British rock sound with Byron on vocals and with the addition of David Poulin on strings and Staig's guitar riffs in an almost Mick Ronson style sets a nice tone. Can't Get Ahead has a Buddy Holly/Bo Diddley rockin feel and Byron gets things hopping. Jack Breakfast on piano and Byron on lead vocal and harp give this track a real vintage feel. Title track, Transition, is a good urban rocker with a punky, cocky attitude. With a lot of swagger and Reed style vocals, this track kicks! The Job has a folkier sound with an early Bob Dylan delivery and rural fiddle and guitar instrumentation. Very cool! (You Don't Do) What You Used To is a driving rocker with a slightly off beat rhythm. Again Staig sets up the guitar lines, Dennis Mohammed drives the bass, Breakfast on piano and Hicks carries the drums. Very cool. Lucy is a beautiful ballad with simple lines but strongly reminding me of one of today's best songwriters, Frank Black. Definitely one of my favorites on this release with a lot of good tracks to choose from! Don't Reckon has a cool rock blues feel with an early Jorma/Hot Tuna feel. Cool off beat piano lines, sax riffs by Jim Bish and clever guitar riffs gives this track a different kind of heat. Wrapping the release is Big Bad Wolf, a simple country style rocker with solid vocals and really nice slide work from Burke Carroll . Rhythmic acoustic guitar strumming and light honky tonk piano styling carry this track through to the end of a very fine, versatile release.



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