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HitClick's 2005 Review of "Music, Motorcycles and Money"
It's tough not to spot a classic rocker when you come across one.
I mean the kind that grew up on Creedence, the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd, rides a hog in packs of fifteen or more
(two across, of course), and relies chiefly on three things -- music, motorcycles and money. You would think "women" would
be missing from this list, but, in way, that's kind of what this single is about in the first place.
Music, Motorcycles, and Money opens up with a pretty decent guitar
riff intro, and then breaks open into a full band tune; complete with keyboards, bass, and drums. The tune pretty much rides
hard all the way through,
with good changes and a solid arrangement. There are also some decent solos and electric
guitar work during the course of the song. This is a pretty full sounding song with a nice breakdown, a great, spacey electric
guitar solo during the main bridge, and a decent overall mix on the production side of things.
The story around the song is pretty clear -- Gary tells a story
about a man growing up and facing the world and the deconstruction of his dreams; refusing to submit to anything along the
way regardless, including love, and growing to appreciate his life for what it was and holding on to his independence and
a desire to live life in his own way. In fact, Gary's Album, "Looking Back", seems to fit this theme to some degree.
The recording quality on this track is nice and clean -- recorded
by the artist, (Gary has, in fact, constructed a digital studio for himself). In several of my listens, I couldn't help but
feel that the recording was a bit "wet"; meaning in this case a few too many effects on the vocals and on the wall of sound
behind them, which kind of drown the vocals out a bit in the mix for me. I also couldn't tell if I was listening to a real
drummer or a midi drum track, although my first instinct screamed "midi". I also couldn't make out a bass line in the song,
which really would have held it down. In my opinion, this track would rock a whole lot more if we could get a real (sounding)
drummer and band in there and hear those vocals a little more than we do now. All in all, however, the recording is clean
and well put together.
Music, Motorcycles, and Money is a solid tune overall; especially
for those who share the lifestyle. In short, if your hand goes for the lighter in the pocket of your leather jacket when Freebird
starts up, then you would definitely dig this song. But then again, I guess we all can't help but do that, can we?
Stone Bayliss
HitClick Staff Reviewer
I am a featured artist on the 2003 compilation album from
UMFM, an internet radio station in Toronto, Canada. This is the review Sea Ansley wrote about my album Looking Back.
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By Sea Ansley
Originally published on January 28‚ 2004
I initially discovered Gary Jennings’ website while shopping
for an Alesis Nanocompressor for radio and my personal recording purposes. Little did I know that a very strange sales experience
(thank you, roundabout UPS) would lead to the inclusion of Jennings’ music on a special radio compilation CD, and that
Jennings and I would enjoy an enduring rapport beyond that. He recently sent me a copy of a veritable greatest hits album,
Looking Back , which includes his original
rock songs from days past.
The Album
Music,
Motorcycles and Money (featured on the special VOLUMFM 2003 compilation) is a roaring rock track with catchy progressions and an excellent use of chorus on the guitars. It is a complete
song, with a well-placed guitar solo, and sedentary, all-knowing vocals.
Songs like I Can Always
Count on You and Just For You remind me of soda bars in the 1960s, had I been around then.
Essentially, what I imagine my parents listened to when they were sprouting their nubs and blossoming into adulthood. Jennings
has a smooth voice, as well as once sporting a smooth haircut in the monochrome back-panel picture from days past with his
Harmony guitar.
The opening sounds of Passion bears a distant resemblance to Stairway to
Heaven. The song transgresses to a more adult contemporary laid back, early 90’s romantic adventure movie kind of soundtrack.
The guitar solo was written and performed by Jennings’ son, Jason. The slow, lounge-style tempo continues through to The One , which if anything on the record seems a little misplaced and redundant (in relation to the
two similar songs prior to Passion).
Changes opens sadly, like a weeping willow leaning
over a twisted river, swing hanging beneath a tree. Sedentary, melodic guitars harmonize over what would sound great on a
lost highway, driving down a sleep-deprived road.
Do As I Please is a more traditional
smoking rock track, performed with Dan Duncan on bass and Ed Havis on drums from Gary's band, Crossfire. There are possible
influences all over the place with this song, ranging vaguely from heavy alternative grunge rock (a stretch, I know), to harder,
classic rock ‘n’ roll riffs from the 1970s.
Looking Back concludes the album,
returning to the b-bop, rockabilly, last-dance kind of feel. A fitting piece that essentially sums up the compilation of songs
and Jennings’ own music history.
For somebody having just learned digital recording, the sound quality and production
presented by Jennings is quite impressive. While not terribly long (Looking Back clocks in at under forty minutes), it feels like a complete album. It is easy enough listening, void of irritating guitar
solos that are contributing to the unpopularity of traditional rock music with today’s younger music generation.
A
new, more up-tempo rock-oriented release from Jennings is expected in the near future.
Conclusion
Gary
Jennings’ Looking Back is a worthy piece for your collection if you enjoy downtempo rock with a mid-20th century feel, but should also complement
a relaxing dinner or romantic wine-sipping atmosphere in your own home. If you at all reminisce about the 50s, you'll enjoy Looking Back. For the opening track alone, it is worth a listen.
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Gary Dean Jennings
Dreamcatcher Studio
Gardon Records
California
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