Chris Pierce
Static Trampoline

Review By Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
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  Chris Pierce reminded me of someone while listening to his emotional vocals. I could not help but hear Sting with a reggae inflection. I know its sounds a little weird, but everyone hears things in their own way. This is not to say I did not enjoy his vocals, in fact, I thought he was excellent throughout this entire recording.

Static Trampoline is a rock solid new album from Pierce. He delivers music and vocals that reach your heart and soul in an instant. The music presented here is simple yet defined. The musicianship is outstanding and the vocal style of Pierce is a great fit for his lyrics, acoustic guitar, and all of the other instruments that come into focus on each track, such as the Hammond organ, alto sax, harmonica, and of course electric guitar, bass and drums.

"Bye Bye Butterfly" is the opener, and it invites you into a mellow yet upbeat world with Pierce vocalizing gently yet poignantly so you embrace his message with ease. It's a great start to an album full of wonderful melodies, mesmerizing rhythms, and lyrics that are clearly understandable with significant meaning for the singer and the listener. If the lyrics fit into your life, which is always the one piece that can make your listen a little deeper, you will find the entire package offered here quite enjoyable. The second track I found very revealing. Pierce obviously looks at life with the eyes of person that has a soul that runs deep and true. How often do you hear songs about beauty that relate to what is on the inside of a person, rather than the physical body, or suggesting something sexual? Well this tune strips down life to the real meaning; in terms that everyone can understand, well, anyone that is not superficial any way.

The most significant song is the title track. Once again the focus is dealing with life on life's terms, not looking at life through rose colored glasses, as the lyrics point out several times. Throughout all this prolific imagery created by Pierce's lyrics, there is some incredibly good music going on. The mixture of rock, blues, soul, folk, and of course some reggae to give it even more color and substance, makes this a listen that keeps your ears pinned to the speakers. I really enjoyed every track and never felt bored or the need to leave the room with disinterest. Pierce is a poet that happens to be a musician as well, and that combination can be very powerful when it works. Static Trampoline is a significant work of art from top to bottom and well worth a listen for anyone that appreciates great music backed with vocals that stay with you for a long time.

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