The experimentations are no less. The lead-off cut "Do The Romp" is a hip grinding rocker and if the whole cd followed this pattern you would be no less happy. With it comes the Duarte trademark of quicksilver leads engulfed by feedback security blankets. "101" follows closely behind and is an instrumental mined from the same musical vein producing the lineage of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. A fast paced rocker that ends in a train wreck fashion. Rather then stay on a collision course full of guitar fury and madman shredding, Chris pulls back the reins a little and turns the "Fire's Gone Out into a short dance affair with subtlety undermined by red mercury lead notes dripping from Duarte's fretboard.

Saluting Texan compadre Eric Johnson, Duarte rampages his way through the instrumental "Like Eric" manifesting a Steve Vai persona of quick tricks and hot licks. Chris' rhythm section of drummer Ed Miles and bassist John Jordan lay a solid foundation for which Duarte can build his musical empire invoking an imagery of hard rock, backwards guitar phrases, feedback, blues and general shredding that borders on the lunatic side of life. Lunacy will take a backseat as shown on Bob Dylan's "One More Cup of Coffee" that displays Duarte's handling of personal ballads without rough play. "Last Night" reflects a personal outlook of despair and casts a shadow of darkness with Chris telling a story through confessional lyrics and mutated guitar solos making the scenario even more foreboding. When Duarte emerges with "Mr. Neighbor" and "Take It To The Lord", we finally see a survivor through a baptism of fire. In "Neighbor," backwards guitar effects recall Hendrix' "Bold As Love" and "Take It To The Lord" may find Duarte finally achieving the inner peace that eluded him for too long.

The only blues to be found on this cd is "Bb Blues." Chris could have easily taken an easy way out and wrote many songs of this genre. Predictability isn't what Duarte stands for. Wearing many musical hats is his lynchpins for success. Being just another "Texas Blues Guitar Player" is not plentiful enough and isn't in the Chris Duarte Game Plan for riding the glory train.

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