INDIE CD REVIEWS

ARTIST: Mark W. Curran

TITLE: "From The Heart"

This impressive debut from singer-songwriter Mark W. Curran, a Los Angeles performer, offers 11 original songs in a variety of styles, Country Pop, R & B, Oldies Rock, Ballad and Folk. CD is well-produced, featuring a full complement of instruments, including guitars, piano, bass, fiddle, strings, percussion, sax.

CD is a pleasant fusion of these styles, augmented by outstanding lead vocals and punctuated throughout with first class musicianship. Effort largely dominated by LA Session player and record producer Bud Martin, who plays lead and back up guitar, bass, and provides additional drum programming to Mark's live drumming. Curran also plays acoustic guitar and sings much of the vocals, with additional back up harmony and acoustic guitar by Thomas Haney.

Lyrically, the songs tend to center on the central themes of traveling the rural US, namely, Route 66, referred to here numerous times, and most notably in the track "Route 66 Rock," an homage to old time rock and roll and rockabilly stylings. Interesting turns of lyrical phrases such as "It's not just a highway not another road/The place of dreams and the motherlode/", makes the stories the songs tell visually compelling.

The ballad "She Will Fly" offers the thoughts of a man reflecting on a love lost as he drives cross country providing strong imagery with great phrasing: "She's always thinking forward/But her thoughts are not on me/Now she's somewhere over Texas/And our love is out to sea."

"Whiskey River" tells the story of a western hero caught up in the bottle, while "Queen Of Diamonds" recounts a woman who throws her diamond ring to the stars and the interesting results that follow.

"Bright Lights Small Town Saturday Night" is an uptempo ode to small town life, a Jimmy-Buffetish style pop ditty with single potential, if pop radio would ever consider an indie release in these corporate times.

Curran's ability to craft a hilarious novelty song is demonstrated in "Charge Card Blues," about a man who meets a girl in a bar but soon discovers her interest is really in his credit line. "Keep The Flame Alive" is a heartfelt tribute to Elvis, in the vein of "Goodbye Norma Jean." One can almost hear Elton John singing this song!

The two bonus tracks offered at the end of this CD are the real surprises in this collection, and a delight they are.

Both "Midnight Train" and "Rockin' The Country" are written by Curran but sung by LA session vocalist Faith Rivera, who has one of the most beautiful and powerful voices on the planet. These two songs show enormous single potential in the country crossover market.

With great emphasis on catchy melodies and powerful pop hooks, coupled with intelligent lyrics and outstanding musicianship, this indie effort is a joy to listen to.

FOUR STARS * * * *

- Richard Caplan, Indie CD Review, Reprinted From "Summer 2002" issue