REVIEW: Blue Spark, Transmitter (Good Ink)
- Daniel Aloi
Fans of the Seattle band Goodness shouldn't despair that lead singer-songwriter Carrie Akre decided to leave for Los Angeles last fall. Her move didn't exactly leave her bandmates with nothing to do.
The band's family tree extends far and wide, including all the projects Akre (pronounced "ACK-ree") participates in -- she's a prime candidate for a left-of-the-dial "Six Degrees of" game.
Among Goodness' many spinoff bands are The Pin-Ups, Sweetwater (not the Woodstock-playing, VH-1 movie of the week band), Miracle Baby, and now, Blue Spark. Goodness guitarist Garth Reeves and drummer Chris Friel's side project has produced the kind of record that fans of melodic, thoughtful, guitar-driven roots rock should eat up.
Reeves' songs are intelligent and sincere, exploring a landscape of love found and lost. The rocking "Better Me" finds him bettered, not embittered, by a relationship; while the flip-side of that sentiment, "This Town," is about how everything changes and previously familiar places are avoided when a love affair is over. Reeves and company change tempo and mood from exuberant to reflective, while keeping all on a romantic even keel.
Mandolin, keyboards, vocal harmonies and pedal steel are added for taste on most of the seven-song album, but a basic trio carries off "Parks of Olympia," a solid, driving modern rocker (think Goo Goo Dolls) about some favorite public spaces to hang out.
Transmitter is an album for those who appreciate the fact that once upon a time the BoDeans cracked the Top 10. Highly recommended. For more on Blue Spark and related bands, go to http://www.goodinkrecords.com.
