this track is really well played. Mia has a very good voice and the band actually makes the song
groove. (I do have to wonder how many times they had to do a retake because the band was
cracking up?)
Track 10 - A Special Girl - Jim McCarty (of the Yardbirds) - 4:45 - The first thing the listener
notices is the melodic groove that could easily fit in the background of a cocktail party or with a
bunch of young neo-hippies hanging in the park. I actually mean that as a compliment. The mu-
sic does have some Adult Contemporary overtones that would make a dentist smile, but if you
really listen to the track you will hear a subtle, yet smoking guitar. That guitar behind the easy-
on-the-ears voice really works together to create something special that just may take a couple of
listens to fully appreciate. When all is said and done, I find myself speechless and thinking “now
that is one cool way to rock and roll.”
Track 11 - Ballerina Of The Bowery - Jana Peri 4:10 - I dig this song. The Bo Diddley vibe is
just too cool. Man, the drummer, Kurt Reil, is laying it down! When you combine those drums
with the ultra-raunchy guitar (Gar Francis) the song is mind-bending. Add in the vocals and the
track goes from mind-bending to absolutely mind-blowing. This song has anthem written all over
it. I dare anyone to listen to this track and not start to groove along.
Track 12 - Break It Down - Anthony Krizan (of the Spin Doctors) - 4:29 - WICKED! Good God
I love well-used feedback! The blues simply does not get any raunchier or grittier than this. The
cool thing about this track is that while the music is head-splitting level loud and confrontation
the vocals are, believe it or not, melodic. The background vocals only add to the contrast of the
out of control, fire-breathing dragon on lead guitar. Out of all of the truly fine tracks on this al-
bum, this could very well be my favorite.
Track 13 - Fool For Your Love - Crab Bubbles Band 2:47 - The heavy groove continues. There
is no doubt that the Crab Bubbles Band can make some noise. The melodic verse is almost a re-
lief from the intensity of the chorus. (Who am I kidding? It can never be too intense!) This song
is so good I find myself wishing I was in this band. Excellent work!
Track 14 - Make Up Your Mind - Inches From Sin 3:24 - This song is interesting. On the one
hand, it sounds so cheery, but there is a menacing machine-like sound grinding just underneath
the pleasant keyboards. I am really curious, given the name of the band, is this a simple love
song or do the singers have some darker nefarious purpose in mind for the person they are en-
couraged to make up their mind?
Track 15 - Shine Your Love - Kathryn Shipley 3:53 - Kathryn starts
out with some really nice soulful keys. I really am feeling a Band
groove here. Then the vocals come in. Man, she has a great
voice! The background singers definitely add to the soulful
vibe. Then it dawns on me this is the stuff all the great Motown sing-
ers grew up singing. This song could be from a church service, albeit
not the kind I attended as a kid. This song would fit into a church ser-
vice where the people rock out. You have to listen to the piano (Eric Barfield) runs in this
track. The piano, with the organ in the background, the wicked guitar on the edge, the backup