Acknowledged guitar master Phil Keaggy has released many instrumental albums in his career. This particular release is part of a series of ambient music designed to put the listener in a suitably contemplative mood. What it does, it does well. The theme of this particular album is "Still Life." In that vein, it features mostly softer, slower tunes. Because of this, people might be tempted to pass it by.
The title, Music to Paint By is somewhat misleading. While indeed you could paint to this music, it seems to be music to meditate upon, in general. The subdued tone colours, the subtle fret work, not at all overpowering or contrived-sounding, and the serene tenor to the overall album make it a masterwork for those quiet times.
Because of the nature of the project series, there's a very coherent stylistic unity to the tunes on this disc. It's quite an interesting listen for that reason. It may have been perhaps easier to just record some quiet, unintrusive background or elevatoresque tunage, but there's a sonic unity to much of the disc that makes it flow from end to end. Evidences of this include the "Alegria" track and its reprise, the "Way of a Painter" trilogy at the middle of the disc, and "The Blue Planet," which ties together the themes of the disc.
Quite a lovely disc, in the final summary. It is not Keaggy's best work, perhaps, but for quiet music for the contemplative moments, a person could do far worse.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Lisa ReidWhether or not you paint, this CD series may be for you. Apparently intended as background music for artists, it holds appeal for just about anyone who enjoys Keaggy, instrumentals, and (as is always the case with Keaggy) brilliant guitar work. The music is roughly sorted by style from disc to disc, and the titles are quite descriptive of the music found thereon. Electric Blue is done with…More from Phil Keaggy
1995Time 2
2000Inseparable
1994Blue
1993Crimson and Blue
1999Music to Paint By - Brushstrokes
1995True Believer
