Vol. #93: The Rick Ray Band “The Gremlins Are Listening”
August 24, 2023|Rustbelt Rock Review
Rustbelt Rock Review
By: Z.M. Delgado
Rustbeltrockreview.com
Volume #93: The Rick Ray Band – “The Gremlins Are Listening”
August 2023
Neurosis Records
It is with great pleasure that I sit down to write up another edition of the Rustbelt Rock Review. In this issue we will be discussing the 37thalbum by Northeast Ohio veteran Rockers: The Rick Ray Band. This new album, “The Gremlins Are Listening,” is a sizable collection of Rock N’ Roll. Comprised of 12 tracks and clocking in at an hour and eighteen minutes, there is a lot to unpack here. Let’s start with the band. The Rick Ray Band is comprised of: Rick Ray (Guitar/Vocals), Dave “Shaggy” Snodgrass (Bass/Vocals), Kip Volans (Drums) and Rick “Sarge” Schultz (Reeds and Wind Synth). The four piece band plays a brand of Rock which is an amalgam of disciplines from the Classic Rock period. It all blends into an excellent style that is versatile to say the least. I would like to do my normal track by track breakdown for this record, but I find it would be nearly impossible to do so. The reason being that each song is quite complex, and to provide an ample description would cause this article to grow to ridiculous lengths. So instead I have decided to give you the broad strokes. The Rick Ray band is like a musical time capsule. They have a sound that harkens to a bygone era, which seems to have been preserved perfectly. When I listen to them I hear snippets of some of the best artists in history. There are splashes of Deep Purple, UFO, Pink Floyd and The Allman Bros. Instrumental portions scream “Jam Band,” and I have no doubt that the Rick Ray Band can go off script and deliver exquisite improvisation. Then there is that outstanding wind section. The Sax work of Sarge is fantastic and reminds me of the legendary playing put forth by the E. Street Band’s late Clarence Clemons. Despite these somewhat obvious comparisons I have to say that The Rick Ray band has a sound of their own. Each song is a bit of a journey. Sonically they lead you down a path, and from start to finish, you never know exactly where you’ll end up. With most of the songs being of considerable length; Ranging from 3:58-9:07 there are no “short songs” in this collection. Despite their formidable runtime, the songs are sufficiently layered to keep them very interesting. Each instrument shines in its own right as the Rick Ray Band carves out elaborate soundscapes. To me every song on the album is rock solid. If I had to choose stand out tracks they would be as follows: I love the album opener “Escape Route.” It starts things off with strong energy and has a great riff. The title track “The Gremlins Are Listening” is superb. The longest track in the collection; it is the epitome of that sonic journey I was describing. The slow and sorrowful “Waterloo” is gorgeous. This melancholy ballad has a lot of heart and is a nice change of pace. There is the undeniably danceable “Atom Smasher,” which has a party vibe and I have no doubt would kill live. I seriously dig the Bass work and overall cadence of “Life Goes On.” And I have a particular affection for the instrumental monstrosity “Guitargoyles,” which jams from beginning to end.
Eric Stevenson: The Official Tattoo Artist of the Rustbelt Rock Review. @ericstevensonart
So in the end, how do I feel about “The Gremlins Are Listening.” In short, I think it’s great. I am often bombarded with music that is the heaviest of the heavy. For me reviewing a “Classic Rock,” album has been really refreshing. I get to forget about shredding and brutality for a while and instead focus on musicianship and groove. Now those are two things that this album has an abundance of: musicianship and groove. In fact it seems to be overflowing with both. I find the instrumentation to be stellar across the board. We’ve already discussed the wind section, but how about the guitars. Well I have to say they are smooth and the solos are tight (Check out “Use Your Pinky Frank”). In addition to this, the Bass lines are about as slippery as they come. The throbbing sounds of Shaggy’s four string provide a much needed dose of low end action. The percussion of Kip is on point and often quite intricate as the songs navigate their many twists and turns (“You Can Take It” is a great example) . Finally Rick’s vocals are perfectly aligned with the overall style and feel of the band, completing the formula for an excellent sound. So yeah, I dig it. “The Gremlins Are Listening” is an outstanding record. In fact I would call it an inspired effort. The songs have an energy and a lot heart. Whether you are looking for a solid jams or a softer ballad this album has something to fit every mood. If you are a fan of Classic Rock, but are tired of the played out favorites, then give Rick Ray Band a listen. They are writing new music that screams with the sounds from the greatest era in Rock history.
Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt!
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
Zackolantern.com
8/19/2023
(The Rick Ray Band – “The Gremlins are Listening” A complex and grooving collection of original songs for the modern Classic Rock fan. With an entire emotional spectrum to draw from this album supplies a ready soundtrack for any occasion. Highly Recommend.)
LINKS
