Steven Is Right On The Mark

Artist: Steven Mark
Title: Distraction
Genre: Alternative-Rock-Pop
Label: Independent
Website: http://www.stevenmarkmusic.com

Steven Mark takes the nod from all of his self-professed influences such as Dylan, Morrison, Townsend and Lennon on his new album Distraction. Mark plays guitar and sings sweetly, and he does so with biting dark lyrics. His vocals and harmony actually reminded me of The Byrds.

To give you an example of how Mark’s deceptively beautifully vocals turn into sardonic repartee is the track "Beer & Nyquil."
The first verse goes-You fake each day/Swallow the mirrors with the smoke/Roles that you play/Are who you are/Can’t run away/You’ve grown addicted to the joke/You read today/You’re the latest sinking star. Then the second verse repetitively says…Living on beer and Nyquil. Perhaps it is a requiem for a fallen rock star caught up in the insanity of the lifestyle. I hope it’s not a forecast for the future for this artist! This is unlikely, in any event, it certainly does not sound to far-fetched for anyone to fall into that trap of drugs and demise.

That is but one example of a CD chock full of catchy hook filled tracks ready to grab you by the ears and pull you in for a good 45 minutes or so. He has the voice, the acumen, and the intellect to take his music to the masses, and no matter how indifferent or dark some of the songs may be to some listeners, there is still humor found in between the lines, and that my friends is what rock music is all about.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

August 29, 2004

01. Get Off The Ride (2:56)
02. Under The Covers (5:23)
03. Pass Around The Bowl (3:57)
04. Ubersize That (4:21)
05. Another Day Insight (3:48)
06. Dumb It Down (3:58)
07. Toxins With Cream (6:01)
08. This Dance Is Mine (3:25)
09. Beer & Nyquil (3:25)
10. Primary Colors (3:20)
11. Where You Are (2:51)
12. Messiah Complex (5:02)

Rating-7/10

Credits:

Steven Mark-Vocals & guitar
Alton Delano-Guitar, bass, drums, piano, mandolin, cello & mellotron
Ryan Fitch-Drums & percussion
Todd Schietroma-Percussion

Steven Mark Music
Modern rock has a problem. There are too many artists who build their music on flashy tricks and lackluster musical concepts. Steven Mark has a different idea. A new face on the New York music scene, Mark has been longing for the simpler formats of days past, from artists like The Byrds and The Doors, bands that kept an uncomplicated view of music and a simple direction " a melody that didn’t take serious contemplation to enjoy.