Robin Sylar grew up in the North Dallas suburbs in the wonderful 1950’s, In third grad he got a guitar and his best buddy Sonny Collie got a set of drums. By the 4th grade they had their first gig in front of the school. According to Sonny, the “experience ruined both Robin and me for any life other than the ones we lived, whatever is to be said about it. Nothing like that had ever happened in our common little lives, and we were on fire to play wild music from then on, to get better at it, and to be stars some day.” (those are excerpts from Sonny Collie written on www.robinsylar.com) Robin Sylar sure did play some wild music and I think you should give it a listen.
Starts out jumping and pounding like dogs in heat, “Bust Out “ is the name of the first tune and it sets the stage for something different. The next song “ Louisana Lava Man” picks things right back up without a missed beat and once again the listener has his or her groove on.
#3, “Dynamite Nitro” could easily be my favorite song here, it’s not your normal song. It just keeps pecking away at ya, sort of off key a bit but somehow together. I just like it a bunch. # 4 “Bertha Lu” ain’t gonna let you off this ride. Once you’ve made it this far, Bertha Lu has you in her grip. This CD is not for the traditionalist, on the other hand maybe a traditionalist could stand some Robin Sylar. It’s almost punky, like the B 52’s but there is some blues in there.
#5 “Scratchy” doesn’t lighten up at all, its got ya rollin & tumbling like a surfer through the tube. Then, what I always thought was needed someplace, Bagpipes, that’s right a few seconds of Bagpipes. What the heck ? Back to the tube , get back up and ride that Sylar wave. Then things get wack, like a borderline psycho. “Scratchy” takes so many turns you’ll be going around in circles. Still in all another good tune.
“Wild Cherry”, #6 starts of with a wacky voice on helium but is a blues tune and a pretty good one at that. “Dux” #7 has got to be my second favorite song on this CD. I like the unpredictability and non conformity of it. I think most people like the things that are sung about in this song. “Hey Duckhead, Quack it up!” is an all time great line.
The following 8 cuts seem to flow in a really good mix of songs that will keep a party moving and grooving. There is more of that surf type beach music feel, I’m almost waiting for somebody to yell “Wipe Out”. This is not that conventional however, just when you feel like it’s figured out, Robin Sylar with throw you a curve ball followed up with a high heater. There is a Vietnam reminder to boot in #14 “Made Up My Mind” and then there are the conversations intertwined within that make this tune almost eerie.
This ain’t your run of the mill stuff, It creates new boundaries and new rules. I can’t say that everyone will like it but I can honestly say that I did and feel that it’s worth the purchase price. This dude made 2 CD’s before he called it quits on a December night in Texas 2005. People say he was something special and I believe that. Check him out while you have the chance. Visit his site at www.robinsylar.com
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