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Is it time? Well, maybe. The debut from Chubby certainly
comes out nice and strong for a freshman band. Dennis Brockenborough
really isn't a newcomer to the music scene though. He came from
another band that I am explicitly not going to mention, even though
he spent a decade with this band. Pretty popular one I might add,
I have seen him on stage at least three times. Why am I being
so coy about where he came from? Because I am trying to pay him
and Chubby the biggest compliment I can. I believe he has pulled
off the almost impossible task of spending a decade with a style
of music and then removing himself to produce a work of art completely
diametric from his past. Go ahead type his name into a browser,
and you will find the band name, but first I say Chubby deserves
to be judged on its own merits and not to be compared.
Chubby are a so-called "hard rock" band. Really, I
don't hear anything "hard" about them, so I would
classify them as straight rock, like I haven't heard for quite
some time. They do border on a pop-radio boundary, but not enough
for me to feel uncomfortable playing it in my car with a friend.
(Sorry Britney, NO ONE MUST KNOW!) Anyhoo, this album represents
a solid accomplishment for all involved. Producer Chris Zane
has made some adept choices with presentation. Songs like "The
Reason", "So Gone", and "For What It's Worth"
use some interesting musical contrasts of instruments; there
should be more, but then, there should always be more.
What would I have done differently? The bass needs to be more
of presence, not just follow the rhythm line; as a consequence
it almost detracts rather than adds. Brockenborough is a heavyweight
vocalist, but his vocal lines start to sound familiar between
tracks, his great moments are the climax of songs when lead guitarist
Mike Beck joins his voice, but I could still use more level
on the backup vocals to be truly effective. That's it. That's
all I got. That's not so much to ask for is it?
Are they brilliant? Uh, no. Are they perfect? Uh, no again. Are
they worth listening to? Yes. Are they catchy? Definitely. If
you like rock in its pure form, then I recommend: Chubby - Is
It Time? They have a pretty nice site you should check out
as well, www.chubbyrocks.com.
-bishop
Track Listing:
1. Serious
2. Sweet Song
3. So Gone
4. Fight Or F*ck
5. For What It's Worth
6. The Lane
7. Seeing Stars
8. A Day & A Half
9. Boxcutter
10. The Reason
11. New Song #1 (I Am Down)
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