CD has ties to the area

THE LAST BEST WEST
Nick Faye & the Deputies
Indie
8-out-of-10
Nick Faye is a name you might want to remember because this Regina-based musician writes a darned fine soft rock song, and quite frankly performs them just fine too.

Faye recently performed locally at 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer in Yorkton, where it was just Faye and his guitar. It was a more intimate representation of his music in the cozy venue, but the disk in this case is better.

Faye's music works better with a full band in support of it. The music comes across more like it was meant to be.

All the songs were written by Faye, and he writes what he knows, with songs reflective of Saskatchewan. You see our province in the lyrics of songs such as Hawks Above and Bankend, and they are more enjoyable as a result.

This disk also has some local relevance. Faye has family in Foam Lake, and Byron Chambers, formally of Yorkton is both a musician on the disk, and he recorded, mixed and mastered The Last Best West. Joining Faye and Chambers on the album is Adam Ennis.

In addition Emily Kohlert from Yorkton took the CD's interior photo art.

While there are good reasons to check out this disk to support local and Saskatchewan talent, the best reason to buy it is because it's a great piece of music.

Check it out at www.myspace.com/nickfaye
- CALVIN DANIELS

BLOODWORK
Jerry Stamp
Indie
6.5-out-of-10
Jerry Stamp is a prolific musician out of Newfoundland.

I say prolific with meaning in this case with Stamp's hands in five albums in a single year.

Somewhere amid the recording this acoustic artist still finds time to tour including being the 'boats' aspect of a recent Boats to Barley Tour with Nick Faye which included a stop in Yorkton.

In Yorkton it was just Stamp and his guitar and that was just fine for a performer who owes a lot of his sound to folk roots.

Stamp has a sound which certainly fits the notion of East Coast music. There is a high level of reality in the lyrics.

There are several songs here which are quite appealing, including Tonight, Pretty Things, And The Waves Crash and Stars Don't Call.

This is a disk which requires some listener investment in as much as you need to hear the lyrics to truly appreciate the detailed pictures Stamp paints here.

If you are willing to make that investment, and you like folk-based music, this is one to search out.
Check it out at www.myspace.com/jerrystamp

- CALVIN DANIELS
Past reviews are archived online at http://calmardan.blogspot.com/