THE MIKE STONE TRIO – Lucky Dog

Label: Rat Pak Records

Release Date: January 1, 2013

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: ToddStar

It seems I am grabbing all of the odd choices lately to review.  This spin is Mike Stone, fromerly of Criss and Queensryche, and his jazz trio, The Mike Stone Trio.  although, I am not sure its really a trio, as he plays all guitars, bass and drums on all but one track.  “Lucky Dog” is the opening track and kicks this disc off in the right direction.  The fusion guitar is great and the drums and bass add to the track.  The song has a light and fun groove.  “Milk & Honey” is next and is a cool duet between Mike and Laura U’ Foria.  Again, the guitar playing is cool and vibe filled on this track.  The duet features two vocals of similar feel, so they mesh well together.  “Falling” follows and slows the tempo down.  Mike’s playing is good on this track, but seems a bit restrained or subdued compared to the previous tracks.  “Rumble Seat” brings the jazz groove back full swing and is a great track that lets Mike’s abilities to shine through.  This instrumental is one of the better tracks on the disc.  “Slice Of Life” has a cool swing vibe that mixes well with the jazz component.  The vocals accentuate the instruments here and allow the song to stretch out and add another dimension to the disc.

“You Know The Song” is all jazz, from the guitar work to the raspy vocals.  The guitar solo is mellow and cool and adds another layer to the disc.  “Two Fools Remain” slows everything way down.  The vocals are emotive, but I think this would have been better suited as a duet with Laura, who really added to an earlier track.  The music is sultry and could be even sexier if there were a sexy female vocal over top.  “Easy Street” features a cool bass line that seems to stand out more on this track than others.  The tempo is faster and fun, without seeming rushed.  The background vocals are great and add depth to the track.  “Lettin’ It Slide” slows it back down a little, but in this case, it’s a good thing.  Mike really allows his guitar playing to stand out, while he lays a smokey vocal on top of the music.  “The Bottom Line” is the final track and closes the disc with the same fun and light groove we started with on the first tune.  I can’t wait to spin this disc in the background at a social gathering later tonight.  This is totally going to  turn some heads!

http://ratpakrecordsamerica.com/mikestone.cfm

Category: CD Reviews