Title - 'Come And Get It' (Capitol)
Artist - Eli
In all honesty, I first learned of Eli Reed after he was profiled by a major trade magazine for his previous CD, "Roll With You". And, if further truth be told, I much prefer that CD to his latest effort, "Come and Get It" ... sorry, but there it is!
Yes, it's still Eli, but everthing on this new CD is, well, more. More instruments (including strings), more backup singers, more volume, more electrification. Eli's vocals are mixed "front and center" while Eli is part of the music (and band) on "Roll With You". One wonders if this major style change is being driven by Eli's new mainstream record label.
The sonics of Eli's vocals are curiously bad on several of the cuts. I don't know if it's intentional but the distorted sound quality resembles that of a small speaker beinging grossly over-powered.
And, to back that statement, the album ends on an explosive, James Brown-styled drum break led funk jam of "Explosion" - where Reed's growling,crooning and shrieking vocal range flies into overdrive for ultimate effect!
www.myspace.com/elipaperboyreed