Let your good ears stand to attention to admire accomplished vocals and lyrics that share the same bed as an astonishing 'big sixties' sound production! That basically sums up Phillip E Hardy's Old Dog, New Tricks.. an album that swings between subtle pop/rock and latino genres and adult oriented satirical audiophilia. On the other hand, if you want a little more persuasive detail on this superb album, do read on...
The album opens with Western world; this song is your first taste of Mr Hardy's vocal style that is somewhat reminiscent of Gene Pitney, Roy Orbison, PJ Proby, Tom Jones, Bryan Ferry, and Chris Issak, all coming out of one mouth! Now that's leads me to an important point... name one other artist that can house all of those classic vocals and ride them over a highway of similarly classic musical arrangements without becoming derivative? Western world is a bright and refreshing personalized social commentary with bright jangling guitars and the swapping of lead vocal lines for the chorus that hooks your interest even more as the track progresses.
Promising a miracle is a perfect follow up to Western world with a nice assortment of guitar and bass riffs underneath really cool lyrics that are every bit as engaging as Phillip's vocals. There is much versatility in this song that can be likened to the kind of stuff Phil Spector reached out for. Both Phillips new exactly how to arouse the senses!
Youth is a song that could have settled in well among the best Los Lobos had to offer on their 'Will the wolf survive' album. (That's a tremendous compliment Phil as it's one of my favourite albums of all time!) The same self scrutinising view life is reflected in the lyrics and the more you listen to this song, the more you realise that Phillip is just at home writing excellent lyrics as he is behind a decent drum kit! Season of faith meanwhile is a well placed song of our time, the arrangements here are superb and I love the guitar bits... bright and sparkly with equally bright and sparkly drums and bass bits.
Rain on the window is one for those summer afternoons you make out of winter afternoons by just listening and becoming absorbed. That thing about Phil's vocals, that versatility and colour in an accomplished singer is abundantly clear here. You tend to get sucked all over the place listening to this track... one minute the vocal, the next it's the keys, and then back to that bass and drums synergy that occurs all over this album leaving you whispering expletives to yourself over and over again.
Surrender is an unusual track in it's composition. I for one, would never have imagined taking this style of vocal and setting them to the unique musical arrangement that lies beneath. Mr Hardy, it appears, was not as hesitant as I would have been, and it has paid off.. it's another trademark for a guy who seems to create them with ease.
Ghost in the room has some really nice guitar pieces, chorused and gentle, passive and polite, and these lead onward and upward against a vocal that seems to be directing every note on the fretboard. House of fire shakes you out of where you where listening to Ghost in the room, slightly reminiscent of Queen's more flamboyant compositions from A Night at the Opera and Sheer Heart Attack, but very definately and unmistakably Phillip at his best.
Bourbon Street appeared recently on our very own Mervyn Swift's Online Music Tour compilation and with good reason. I absolutely love the lyrics in this song... and it is a true testimonial to Mr Hardy's musicianship and songwriting ability. I would have loved to have been at the recording session for this song.
She's the one is kinda 1965 ish... I once mentioned that I wished I had the original 45 it's that authentic in the style of the period and the producer/engineer needs a decent pat on the back! I mustn't leave out the superb guitars here... what a pleasure to listen to!
The drift is the last track on this album, and it's absolutely incredible from beginning to end... Carlos Santana shouldn't feel so alone! Phillip's got the reins on his voice yet again.. but perhaps much morte importantly he has the reins on his artistry and imagination. It shows in numerous ways throughout this album and that's why we chose to include Old Dog, New Tricks, for review.. it's a superb album and I can't wait... literally CAN NOT WAIT for his next!
