Guardian

Item: Buzz
Author: Beth Blinn

Buzz

(1995)

Reviewed by Beth Blinn

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Label MyrrhThe LighthouseDecember 1995

alternative rock hard rock pop rock

I have a tendency to gravitate toward artists who like to experiment with their stuff. The ones who aren't afraid to test out several musical genres, within the same album even. Of course, it helps if the experiment is credible-I mean, I'm not going to give points just for trying.

On their latest album, Buzz, Guardian racks up the points for trying and succeeding. This is a band that has gone from '80's glam-metal to arena rock to acoustic country/blues/rock to modern rock with classic influences. Each album has been different, and while they have all succeeded on varying levels, none was ever an embarrassment. [Well, maybe the space-suit age, but that has more to do with marketing...]

Buzz, however, is the most successful experiment to date. I don't know how much can be attributed to producer Steve Taylor's influence, but this project has the most creative lyrical content on a Guardian record yet, and the musical accompaniment is as interesting. Taylor did write the lyrics for three cuts, as well as collaborate with the various members of the band on a couple of others, but the Guardian-penned songs are as strong as Taylor's.

The project kicks off with the hard-driving "This Old Man." Musically setting the tone for most of the album, the song features rhythmic lyrics that describe the struggle between the flesh and the spirit:

This old man he plays one-on-one He was your cool whip master You were his B.C. son This old man he's got the smell of sin He's got the nature of sin He was the actual, factual old sin nature

Most of the music on this record is a struggle to define. It's not like you don't hear influences-there are dashes of '70's rock mixed with current hard rock trends [listen to the vocals of "Hand Of The Father," which are reminiscent of Stone Temple Pilots] and melodic hooks that can be likened to The Beatles. But the music never sounds like the group is ripping off other bands. It's more like they mixed a little of this with some of that and, depending on the proportions, more often than not, came up with something original.

There seems to be more texture to this album, compared to the John and Dino Elefante-produced Miracle Mile and Fire And Love. Strings are laid under crunchy guitars and driving bass lines; every once in a while they throw in an odd time or rhythm change; and the production, in general, is less thick than on previous projects. Vocalist Jamie Rowe displays more vocal diversity than he ever has before, and had a more active role in the writing this time around. It seems like becoming a father has spurred him on in other creative endeavors...

Some of the best cuts are "Are You Gonna Keep Your Word?", "Hand Of The Father," "Psychedelic Runaway," and "Them Nails," which laments:

I used to think if I was there Standing with Jesus face to face I'd be the one to stand up for him Maybe even take his place But I keep drivin' them nails Drivin' them nails right into you.... Don't know why I do

Guardian members Rowe, guitarist Tony Palacios, bassist David Bach, and drummer Karl Ney experienced some fan defection with the release of the acoustic-based Swing, Swang, Swung. Hopefully those people will understand that that album was some artistic stretching. These guys are really rock-and-rollers at heart, and this release serves ample notice of that.