|
contents | world | |||||||||||||
| Shasta Re-Masters Indie Release No More Smoking! Shasta is a Bard with a guitar, armed and ready to make you reflect and ponder your very existence on this planet while questioning your own belief system. The New England native made a life-changing sojourn to California years ago, which is when he began developing into the artist he is today. The re-mastered and re-issued version of "No More Smoking!" will have folk rock fans wondering why Shasta has not opened for legendary acts like Dylan. He won Dylan imitator contests in the past, so it is no coincidence his sound is similar. The lyrics he presents in a song are just as thought provoking and prolific as some of the master's work. Although Shasta does not take himself that seriously, he knows how to have fun in a song and get his audiences laughing. The tongue in cheek innuendo of "It Won't Reach! (My Hose Won't Reach!), " is proof positive of his penchant for comedy and tragedy going hand in hand within one recording. Shasta's gift for the dramatic and politically driven messages is evident as well. Just as his major influences have done in the past, he has a mission and seeks to spread his messages through his music. Shasta also imparts plenty of soul seeking and lyrics about love, which can be serious and funny all at the same time. In a world full of lying politicians and negative media, Shasta is a breath of fresh air appreciated for candor and his heart-on-the-sleeve approach. Tony Bates of 100.6 Highlands FM in Victoria Australia had this to say about the reissue of "No More Smoking!"- "How can one re-release an album that on first hearing needs no additional work? Well, Shasta has surpassed himself by revitalizing his previous album and, guess what? It works! The Bard has proved that one can improve on what others feel is a masterpiece and he has done so without either ruining the essential and initial essence of the album or over-vamping it. Not many could do that, but that just shows Shasta has an intuitive view of his work. This latest release should be bought as an add-on to its predecessor as the two are complimentary." write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |