|
Richard X. Heyman - Actual Sighs
Turn-Up Records
A criminally overlooked melodic pop/rock auteur who
usually only gains notice from the power pop underground, Heyman
has had a much longer career than his cultish but impeccable
reputation (creator of 5 of the greatest power pop CDs ever
made, in my opinion) would suggest, a fact that comes into play
in regards to this, Heyman's latest CD release. I'd like to say
this is a new CD, and in a sense it is, but with a very
interesting twist: for this CD Heyman has decided to resurrect
his first 6-song EP Actual Size from 1986 and reissue it along
with another fourteen songs recorded at the same time but
unreleased until now. And, lest one think this is merely the
twentieth anniversary celebration of that first EP, it is also
in some ways a near 40 year anniversary celebration of his first
musical forays.
A much sought-after drummer since his early teens
in the mid-'60's, Heyman began his career by playing for some of
the hottest bands on the East Coast during that exciting decade
(and beyond). Heyman also gained a wealth of valuable musical
experience by backing up many musical legends as part of one of
the most well-known backup bands on the East Coast. A CD
comprised of stories about Heyman's exploits with legendary
musical figures would be a great buy at any price all on its'
own. That he has managed to master a plethora of instruments in
the intervening years and become a home-recording genius only
adds to the immense musical shadow he manages to cast.
Mixed back in the day by Ed Stasium, this
EP-turned-epic-album has a cohesiveness which is more than just
semi-surprising. Sure, all the songs were recorded at the same
time so you expect a modicum of similar subject matter and
musical ability, but all the cuts retain a brilliant freshness
and a thematic parity that turns the album into more than just a
cut-and-dried reissue project. It boggles my mind how undated
these songs sound and how much they sound like some of the lo-fi
pop that is all the rage today. I tried listening to the album
before reading the liner notes just to test myself to see if I
could pick out what was on the original release and what was
left off. To my surprise, I couldn't do it. I was sure I would
be able to pick the wheat from the chaff but there is no chaff!
What Heyman could have done (which would have rare and novel)
would have been to let people listen to all the songs and
compile six of their choosing for their own Actual Sighs EP.
Though it would be criminal not to have all the songs, it would
have more than illustrated the point that there is no filler on
this album. Why he left any of these songs off of the orignal
release is a mystery known only to Heyman.
Anyone into melodic pop on a par with Paul
McCartney, Todd Rundgren and Emitt Rhodes will love this CD.
Filled with sing-along melodies and hooks that burroiw into your
head like worms, this CD will no doubt become the CD you pop in
your car stereo over the summer when you're driving around
looking cool. In fact, if I were to pick the first CD I've heard
this year that could be classified as a great summer CD, this
would be it. Pick it up and see for yourself. - Scott Homewood
www.richardxheyman.com
|
