Press | Pat McCurdy and the Confidentials' New Tape (May 12, 1988)
Shepherd Express May 12, 1988
Pat McCurdy and the Confidentials' New Tape
by Tim Forkes
McCurdy and the boys have a new tape out. The production is really good, which complements the strong song writing, but there seems to be something missing. When they play live, there's a certain intensity that emanates from the stage. Although that "feel" cannot easily be duplicated in the studio, just one word would help restore some of that feeling: Volume.
Don't let that stop you from buying this tape. Just remember to crank up the volume knob when you put it on. I listen to it once, at on "I'm-over-30" velocity and felt it was missing something. When it was turned up the music took on a whole different sound.
This work is a serious endeavor -- the live shows are wild abandon. "Everywhere I Go, Everything I Do" captures a bit of that crazy stage persona, as does "In Pursuit". In fact, side two is really a lot grungier the inside one.
Side two drops the Beatlesque Sgt. Peppers sound for McCurdy's famous aggressive punch. Doug Knight's guitar has a little more bite to it, and McCurdy's voice takes on some of that edge. Not a razor's edge, it's more like a hot iron at the tip of a cliff.
Pat McCurdy has a great band working with him, including Jim Whitfield on bass and George Wood on drums. Wood, an innovative musician, goes along with that basic boom-chuck sound current rock and roll is stuck in, but only for so long: He does more than just keep a beat. McCurdy has been a local favorite for many years and he deserves to make it all the way. This tape could do just that.
Pat McCurdy and the Confidentials' New Tape
by Tim Forkes
McCurdy and the boys have a new tape out. The production is really good, which complements the strong song writing, but there seems to be something missing. When they play live, there's a certain intensity that emanates from the stage. Although that "feel" cannot easily be duplicated in the studio, just one word would help restore some of that feeling: Volume.
Don't let that stop you from buying this tape. Just remember to crank up the volume knob when you put it on. I listen to it once, at on "I'm-over-30" velocity and felt it was missing something. When it was turned up the music took on a whole different sound.
This work is a serious endeavor -- the live shows are wild abandon. "Everywhere I Go, Everything I Do" captures a bit of that crazy stage persona, as does "In Pursuit". In fact, side two is really a lot grungier the inside one.
Side two drops the Beatlesque Sgt. Peppers sound for McCurdy's famous aggressive punch. Doug Knight's guitar has a little more bite to it, and McCurdy's voice takes on some of that edge. Not a razor's edge, it's more like a hot iron at the tip of a cliff.
Pat McCurdy has a great band working with him, including Jim Whitfield on bass and George Wood on drums. Wood, an innovative musician, goes along with that basic boom-chuck sound current rock and roll is stuck in, but only for so long: He does more than just keep a beat. McCurdy has been a local favorite for many years and he deserves to make it all the way. This tape could do just that.