Chuck Pyle
Affected By The Moon

Review By Steven Stone
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CD Number: Bee N' Flower Music

  I purchased this CD after attending a Chuck Pyle "house concert" in Castle Rock, Colorado. Chuck lives in southern Colorado, and isn't afraid to wear purple cowboy boots. His music is equal parts country, western, folk, contemporary pop, and Zen Buddhist. He is often referred to as the "Cosmic Cowboy" for both his onstage demeanor and his songs' lyrical bent. On Affected By The Moon you can hear just what makes Chuck special.

The opening cut, "Affected By The Moon," features both Chuck's superb guitar technique and special songwriting talents. He can conjure up a complete mood that is almost cinematic in its ability to create a small world. "Affected By The Moon" captures the feeling of romance engendered by an evening on Paris' left bank. Pyle's songs are often about being away from or returning to familiar places. For example "Hillside Road" dwells on the experience of coming home after a long absence with a lilting to melody highlight the poignant lyrics. Ten of the thirteen songs on Affected By The Moon are Pyle originals. Even the covers, "Blue Train" by Tom Kimmel and Jennifer Kimball, "Outlaw's Dream" by Jack Williams, and "Why Pretend" by Tom Kimmel and Jeff Franzel, seem autobiographical.

Producer Doug Haywood plays bass and electric guitar, along with Christian Teele on drums and percussion, Gordon Burt on fiddle, Dr Daniel Jones on steel guitar and dobro, Pete Wasner on keyboards, and Larry Knight on electric guitar. Even on the more densely produced selections you can't help but notice Chuck Pyle's unique acoustic guitar style. The final cut "Spank" featuring solo guitar lets you hear just how superb a guitar player Chuck Pyle really is. As a solo folkstyle player he has few peers.

Even though Affected By The Moon is on Chuck's own label, Bee N' Flower Music, the sound is on a par with any large label production. David Glasser from Airshow mastering does a superb job with the finishing sonic touches on Doug and Arron Haywood's recording. While this disc may not be found at your local record emporium, Affected By The Moon can be found at Amazon.com. Get yourself a copy.

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