“His got his old man’s dream” sings Steve Chizmadia in “Nashville Star”, a charming modern country pop song with old world styling. Produced with the expert guidance of Peter Calo this disc is chock full of potential hits, if not for Chizmadia, perhaps other artists. “I’m Still Me Are You Still You” would be perfect for a Kenny Loggins / Jim Messina reunion, nice pauses between the guitar strum and the lyric. The arrangements are smart and let the singer’s voice cuts through in a friendly and appealing way. “Song for Pete” is for Weavers legend Pete Seeger, a pensive reflection on the American folk hero.
There’s a song for the “Memphis Girl” and one for the “Louisiana Girl” – Louisiana getting almost five minutes to the three for the chick from Memphis, so perhaps the singers heart was more taken by the inspiration for this mellow paean with floating guitars straight out of Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey.” “Rebuild This City” is a nice song for driving a lonely highway at night. At 5:20 it’s the longest track on this pleasing disc full of hope and pretty melodies.
Joe Viglione is the Chief Film Critic at TMRZoo.com. He has written thousands of reviews and biographies for AllMovie.com, Allmusic.com, Gatehouse Media, Al Aronowitz’s The Blacklisted Journal, and a variety of other media outlets. Joe also produces and hosts Visual Radio, a seventeen year old variety show on cable TV which has interviewed Jodie Foster, director/screenwriter David Koepp, Michael Moore, John Cena, comics/actors Margaret Cho, Gilbert Gottfried, Gallagher, musicians Mark Farner and Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad, Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals, political commentator Bill Press and hundreds of other personalities.
