DESERTED
Blends Styles, Rhythms, Harmonies

A Review of The JimNeiL Project's DESERTED CD
by ¡Que Pasa! Staff Reviewer, Mick West

DESERTED, the first CD effort by The JimNeiL Project, is an eclectic blend of styles, rhythms, and harmonies. Their debut CD is destined to become part of the soundtrack we'll all hear in our heads years from now when we think back on 1999. It is hard to believe that all of these songs were actually written by the same person. JimNeiL is an excellent poet. His lyrics convey feelings we have all felt but find difficulty in expressing. JimNeiL composes haunting melodies. There is a tune on this album for everybody. Well, maybe not for everybody. Teenage Heavy Metal freaks will be disappointed, as will Lawrence Welk lovers.

Stylistically, this collection could be loosely classified as "Adult Contemporary," "Lite-Rock," or "Easy Listening," but it is so much more than any of those labels impart. It constantly made me think and wonder: What's coming next? Each song is so different from the preceding one (a breath of fresh air in these days of "every song sounds alike" CDs).

The first track, Makes Me Feel This Way, is a love ballad performed as a duet by James Cowden and Christie Roam with an unexpected lyrical twist and a laid back "Eagles" attitude. Great hook, choirs, bridge, solo and vocals- a great song.

Fountain Of Truth, sung by Glade Wilson, can best be described as a Rock'n'Roll gospel anthem. Hard driving and phat with impressive backup vocals, this hymn really rocks! Explosive!

The Heat Of The Beat is a very hot Latin dance ditty with a driving beat that shows another facet of Christie's incredible voice. With its powerful bass line and percussion, this boy meets girl song builds to a marvelous interplay between guitar and piano and a strong ending.

Cowden's rendition of It Doesn't Matter is a tasty retro 70s Stevie Wonder style synthesizer tune that has a big band feel with rhythmic counterpoints that Harry Connick, Jr. would never attempt. Its distinctive percussion makes this one "ear candy." Simply delicious.

The next song on the CD paints a picture. Sultry tropical beaches and sybaritic nightlife came to mind when I heard the steel drum and Christie's clear voice singing A Place They Call Deco. Jimmy Buffet no longer has a lock on the "island sound." Vacation anyone?

I wanted a woman in my arms and polished hardwood under my feet when I heard Mr. Cowden's smooth voice singing JimNeiL's passionate and profound tale of a painful love triangle, Tonight. Joe Drzewiecki's killer Saxophone solo really communicates the candid sentiment of this song. Exhilarating!

No Me Digas (Spanish for "Don't Tell Me"), is a bilingual delight both musically and lyrically. Ms. Roam's vocal treatment soars through the English and Spanish lyrics, emphasizing what is necessary to sustain a lover through the passage of time. Marimba, guitar and awesome percussion drive this song. What a finish! Watch out Gloria Estefan, this one is HOT!

One Soul could easily be a Country-Rock tune because it speaks of love at first sight and how a new love can heal all the pain of the past. However, this one and the two other songs that lean toward Country on the CD lack the traditional "twang" typically found in classical Country music. The twin harmonizing lead guitars here are reminiscent of Thin Lizzy.

Bruno Magli Blues, sung by JimNeiL, is a whimsical blues number about O. J. Simpson and the ludicrous events of his trials. Everything is in there, even the barking dog and the MTM show theme song! Like the saga itself, it ends in a drawn-out note and an unresolved chord. It is a nice point of comic relief from the raw emotion of the other tunes. Funny, funny stuff!

My Melody is elegantly arranged through its sheer simplicity. Piano, bowed double bass, and flute, along with Ms. Roam's vocal insight and sensitivity lend an emotional depth to this story of catharsis after a shattered love affair. This incredibly beautiful song truly has the potential to become a standard.

Like One Soul, Sharon is decidedly Country-Rock in flavor and lyrical content. Brant Hopkins does an excellent job with this genre in both songs. I could easily hear this tune blasting from the speakers of a pick-up truck. It even has a Roy Orbison triplet thing going on! This is a very happy little piece of music.

Glade's Hip-Hop interpretation of And So The Story Goes tells a story of love, a broken heart and the never ending question: Why? This clever up-to-date arrangement is sure to make this one a hit with younger listeners. When you hear it you'll know why "It's working!"

On the last track, Christie sings Their Wedding Day- a poignant description of the actions and emotions that transpire when "the knot is tied" at the alter. I won't be a bit surprised to hear this sung at weddings for years to come. Nice backup vocals by Glade round this one out.

Overall, I give The JimNeiL Project very high marks. Musically and technically, it couldn't be better. The diverse assemblage of musicians and instruments work well together in their distinctive format. They demonstrate a competency that is fresh, exciting, and wide open to future possibilities. I'm looking forward to hearing and reviewing their next effort.

DESERTED is TOTALLY HOT and TOTALLY COOL! Simply good music. Mick says, "Check it out!" ¡!