Holt has quantity, but lacks quality
This week's review features Michael Holt's latest release The Dawn Chorus.
Michael Holt, a basically unknown musician, and member of The Mommyheads, is not new to the music industry, and this is his seventh studio album.
Where Holt significantly misses his mark on this album is that he strives too much for mood and passion and lacks musicianship. Yes, it's great you can carry a catchy tune on a track or two Mike (Today, and... oh wait, I think that's it), but there's not enough complex arrangements, there's no artistic satisfaction. For someone who cites King Crimson, Captain Beefheart, and Duke Ellington as their influence, I have a feeling these pioneers of their respected genre are now turning in their graves.
The album runs at a total time of 58:24 and I found I couldn't listen past the third track without losing all focus. From mild research I found Holt has a large problem of “quantity over quality” found in his previous releases, this album being no different. With 15 tracks and four to five being fillers (It's Not Up To Us, Could It Be, Back To Zero, These Lonely Tears, An Animal Invitation) Holt has to learn that the phrase is actually “quality, not quantity.”
I don't quite recommend this album to anyone; it's worth a pass, and this album along with Holt, from the looks of it, are diving right into the sea of obscurity. Expect Holt as an opening act at a local coffee shop close to you in the near future.
