Review: Jim Boggia "Misadventures In Stereo"

The Leonardo da Vinci of the melodic rock world, Jim Boggia, delivered another masterpiece in 2008 entitled, "Misadventures in Stereo". On this, his third full-length release, Jim showcases further maturity in songwriting and instrumentation with tunes that are wonderfully diverse yet unmistakeably Boggia.

What I like most about Jim Boggia is that he wears his heart and his influences on his sleeve. Jim's love affair with retro pop sounds and vinyl is once again at the forefront. As on a vinyl release, the songs are once again grouped into two "sides" and Jim even encourages CD listeners to take a break in-between to collect their thoughts. Lyrically and sonically, "Misadventures in Stereo" is a comfortable throwback to this bygone era. For those not familiar, Jim Boggia has a perfect voice for this style of melodic rock, sounding somewhere between vintage Rod Stewart and modern Mike Viola. Musically, his instincts are again in top form, creating instantly memorable melodies that are perfectly suited for the lyrical content, which can go from upbeat and brassy ("Johnnie's Going Down") to downright somber and chilling ("Three Weeks Shy").

There is a tie for my favorite track. First is the sweetly nostalgic "NRBQ" (which even includes a guest appearance from NRBQ's guitarist, Al Anderson!), where Jim's reflections cause us all to wonder about our past acquaintances, people who shared a priceless time with us at one point. While those times may be gone, the memories remain and the experiences contribute to who we are today. But equally stirring is the powerfully moving closer, "Three Weeks Shy", an all too familiar and painful account of a soldier who failed to make it home. As the track closes, there is a spoken list of names with rank, followed by DEAD that left me sitting at a red light in deep thought long after it had turned green. I applaud him for ending the record this way and not launching into a feel good track that would have dampened the experience.

In addition to these standouts, there is plenty of the gorgeous pop fans expect to hear from Boggia...the bold and catchy "Johnnie's Going Down" flows easily into the breezy "To and Fro", and "8Track" is such a groovy rocker that it makes even me want to get up and dance. The bouncy pop treat, "Chalk One Up for Albert's Side", is very Paul McCartney. "So" and "On Your Birthday" are brilliantly gentle and sparse, forcing you to mind the lyrics and appreciate the misadventure.

Out of respect for Jim's philosophies, I will refrain from choosing our usual "iPOD-worthy" cuts from this record. His records are meant to be digested in two halves, so do it right and reward yourself with the listening experience that Jim Boggia intended you to have. And don't forget to read the linear notes on this one...hilarious.

Jim Boggia on MySpace. Official site.

Review: Constantine “Constantine” (2007)

Constantine Maroulis was voted off American Idol in 2005, before being a rocker was feasible on this “talent” show. He ended up in 6th place, hence his label’s name “6th Place Records”. His first solo CD, the self-titled “Constantine”, surfaced in 2007 and boasts an impressive assortment of established talent to help him make his own mark. Constantine seems to have found his niche somewhere in the Rob Thomas vibe, trying to infuse a bit of soul in his otherwise straight up pop rock.

The debut CD has its flaws and fillers, but has more pleasant surprises than negatives. First, I forgot how good his voice sounds. Constantine has an excellent voice for this genre and he knows how to please by reaching up for the dramatic notes at the appropriate times. Second, he’s recruited Philly songwriter Jim Boggia to pen a handful of songs; Jim is an awesome songwriter.

The first song had me worried. “Girl Like You” sounds like a Rob Thomas-Santana leftover, and is pretty generic and bland to me. I also don’t find his efforts to rock out sincere; “Child, You’re The Revolution” and “I Thought It Was Something” fall flat. But “Several Thousand” (also heard on Jim Boggia’s “Fidelity Is the Enemy”) and “Sister, Sister” are slow to mid-tempo numbers that sink their teeth in deep and keep hold of you. “Right To My Head” is another great mid-tempo track with a nice mix of acoustic and electric guitars and sing-a-long chorus. “So Long” is a simple acoustic appeal that finds Constantine pining for a lost love, but he hits all the right buttons and the sparse arrangement puts his voice in the spotlight…and it shines. “Heaven Help The Lonely” is a nice upbeat track near the end of the CD, and you’ll be singing this chorus for the rest of the day.

Funny – I usually gravitate to the more upbeat numbers when listening to CDs, but for Constantine, I seem to prefer the ballads and mid-tempo numbers. If you were a fan of him on American Idol, the CD is a no brainer; for the rest of you, few pop rock fans will be disappointed with this release. It should have been a much bigger success! I look forward to the follow up...

iPOD-worthy: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11

Constantine on MySpace.