CD Review: Dead Rock West's 'It's Everly Time!'

Dead Rock West
It's Everly Time
Angel Flight Recording Co.

The Everly Brothers, once popular in the 1950's and 60's, are resurrected here with the work of Frank Drennen and Cindy Wasserman in Dead Rock West's latest homage to The Brothers with the Grammy-winning producer, Mark Linett, on It's Everly Time. There are fifteen songs by The Everly Brothers remade by Drennen and Wasserman, but the overall sound is highly-reminiscent of the original recordings, which are due to the use of vintage amps and microphones. In addition, the same vocal keys were used to further replicate the original music. "Cathy's Clown" is ripe with great vocals, jangly guitars and percussion, and a rhythm right out of the 1950's and 60's. The swaying ballad, "June Is As Cold As December," contains Drennen and Wasserman's heart-felt vocals backed by a great guitar and percussion base. "Leave My Girl Alone" is a rather upbeat melody that is a bit of a departure from the other songs, but it is still classic Everly Brothers. "[Why Am I] Chained To A Memory" is a slower ballad with twinkling piano keys, light percussion, and guitar-work. The vocals are tender and clear throughout. A classic ode to the now-extinct phone booths, "It Only Costs A Dime," is an upbeat pop ode with light rock effects and of course, great vocals to boot. "[You Got] The Power Of Love" is a bluesy, rock song that sheds the pop-centric qualities of other songs, but the vocals are still clear and rockabilly-like. Fans of The Everly Brothers, song from the 1950's and 60's, and even Fountains of Wayne's work on the That Thing You Do! soundtrack will love it. Highly-lauded! 5 Stars (out of 5). ~ Matthew Forss