John Oates: 1000 Miles of Life
How do you review an album by a someone who is in the songwriters hall of fame. How do you critique someone who has sold more than 80 million albums as part of the duo Hall & Oates? These were just some of the questions swirling in my head as I ordered John Oates album "1000 Miles of Life". John is a current Roaring Fork Valley resident and this album is an independent release; this is exactly the type of project that I would want to review and support.
For those not aware of John's resume, John formed Hall & Oates with Darryl Hall in the early 70's and their style blended rock & roll with rhythm & blues to form what they referred to as "rock and soul." Through their career they have had seven platinum albums, six gold albums, 6 Billboard number 1 hits, and 37 Billboard top 100 singles. Through a 30+ year career in music John has only released 1 other solo album "Phunk Shui" in 2002.
"1000 Miles of Life" is a collection of contemplative songs with early R&B, folk, gospel, and even country influences. I was struck right away at how honest the lyrics are. You can tell that these songs come straight from John's life when he talks about wanting to be with his family in the song "Circle of Three" or the emptiness of materialism in "I Found Love."
Other songs such as "Ghost Town" deal with Hurricane Katrina and not only the devastation but the resiliency of the New Orleans community. "Sending Me Angels" is another great track with the Blind Boys of Alabama providing a great flavor with their background vocals.
All of the tracks on the album are solid and trying to pick a standout is tough because every listen yields a new favorite. Currently my favorite tracks on the album are "Carved in Stone" a rockin' song with an amazing female vocal complimenting John's vocal throughout the song. I also enjoyed "The Good Son" as it impressed me with some of the most powerful lyrics on the album.
The production of the album is first rate and the musicianship on the album is outstanding. With names such as Bela Fleck and John Popper adding their touches to the music, it's no wonder that the quality of the music is so high. John's vocals are first rate and he proves that he can still hit the high notes on songs such as "Ravens" and "Change of Season."
This album is easily a Paravellum 5 star pick and a recommendation for any person that enjoys exceptional music with heartfelt and honest lyrics. Most of the songs on the album are posted on John's WEBSITE. I would strongly suggest picking up a copy which is selling for $8.99 (digital download) on AMAZON.COM
