January, 2007                                      By Doug Cornell

Andres Wilson and the Wailers - Selected Tracks from the album Ink and Sound
Grade: A

Pumping Hammond organ, slashing blues-driven guitars, and a unique vocal style sets Andres Wilson and he Wailers apart from the indie rock crowd.  Trained at the Berkley School of Music, Andres Wilson has taken his six-string talents out on the road and is earning significant acclaim.  Fans of Hendrix, Jeff Buckley, and Stevie Ray Vaughn are enjoying this young guitarists performances.  Tracks like "A Million Miles" demonstrate a mastery of blues rock, as a blistering harmonica is added to an already pulsing sound.  "Myth" finds Andres stomping on his wah-wah, throwing out massive chunks of Stratocaster riffs while singing in a smooth tenor voice.  A delicate piano melody introduces "Poverty and Resource," then a searing electric guitar solo that echoes the late Rory Gallagher enters this mid-tempo track.  Wilson and the band cleverly allow the instruments room to improvise and breathe, making for a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.  "The Woods" is a solid ballad, as piano and guitar create a lush, contrasting bed for Wilson's vocals.

The four tracks that I previewed indicate that Ink and Sound is a must-have for fans of rock guitar.  I'd take a chance on this one if I were you.

The Colour - Between Earth and Sky
Grade: A

Chugging along like a diesel locomotive, the lead-off track "Can't You Hear it Call" provides a clear indication that the new record from the Colour is a rare modern-rock treat.  Without a hint of pretentiousness, the 5 guys who combined to make this record have given us 12 tracks of Stones/Zeppelin inspired music that still manages to sound original.  The lead vocalist, Wyatt Hull, was blessed with a clear voice that exudes sexuality and  was destined to sing rock and roll.  The guitars are the center of the music, and they are given just the right amount of breathing space. 

In "Kill the Lights," the two electric six-strings bang against one another, one playing a driving melody while the other offers up a pulsing rhythm. Hull channels the late James Morrison in the brilliantly sung "Save Yourself," as he chants "How are you going to save me when you can't save yourself" to masterful guitar and percussion accompaniment.  The band easily cops a Zeppelin rif in "Devil's Got a Holda Me," then throws the listener for a loop as a piano enters the mix in the lovely power ballad "Silver Meadows."  Pounding drums indicate that the band is switching back to rock mode "Black Summer," one of the best tracks on an album full of excellent music.

To be honest, very few review albums make it into HitSession's personal collection, but Between Earth and Sky is ripped and stored for future playback.  This one's a keeper.