CD: GARY LEE TOLLEY – Life Travels On A One Way Street

GARY LEE TOLLEY
Life Travels On A One Way Street
Storm Coming Over The Mountain – Music In My
Soul – Ooh La La (The Wedding Song) – Redneck Weekend – Life Travels On
A One Way Street – King Of The Mountain – She’s Gone – Melody By The
Sea – Spinnin
 
 I’m already a fan of Gary Lee, I reviewed his “Nightlife”
album some time ago, and was convinced then that this young man
definitely has a way with words, and that makes him a special
tunesmith.  This first song on this album “Storm Coming Over The
Mountain” utilizes some incredibly good sound effects depicting a
storm.  I’ve heard this utilized before to emphasize the song and it’s
contents, but never done quite so well.  As I listened I was sure
someone was speaking to me, but removal of the head phones proved
otherwise.  It’s voices in the background that actually stimulates one
to listen again.  All of these songs are Gary Tolley originals.  He’s
from Virginia, and has an amazing ability to ‘see’ and “Music In My
Soul” is a good representation of how that particular soul-function
works.  I also like “Ooh La La” which opens with just a guitar riff that
turns into a blistering boost of melodic sound with harmonica that
tends to sound Cajun in style.  Good story song.  By the time we get to
“King Of The Mountain” which features great fiddle and mandolin, I’m
hooked again.  No mention of who these gifted musicians are, but the
intros to each and every song that Gary does is unique and original. 
I’ve not heard so many ‘different’ ways to intro a song before on one
album, but this one does that exactly.  The mix is also quite unique,
and from my point of view, harkens back to another time when a lot of
time was spent getting exactly the right sound where it should be. In
today’s world of electronically computer controlled perfection, that
particular element is often overlooked if not completely abandoned. 
Thanks Gary Lee Tolley and Friends for turning in another super good
easy to listen to original music CD.  Off it goes to the Rural Roots
Music Commission.
 
REVIEW BY BOB EVERHART – www.ntcma.net
for Country Music News International Magazine

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