Throughout the history of rock and roll music, trios have wielded phenomenal creative palettes, and through its small size have been able to intricately play off each other’s genius. The power of three has held amazing potential with enthralling results. Marcus Eaton with his comrades Kevin Rogers (drums) and Garrett Sayers (bass) are following the blueprints left by Cream, Rush and The Police. These three musicians, with Eaton’s leadership, have released ten awesome original tracks on As If You Had Wings that are an aural pleasure to imbibe in again and again.
The intricacy of Eaton’s songs is gratifying and unfortunately lacking in most mainstream rock. Eaton’s style is an excellent mixture of maturity and excitement. In addition to his songwriting and guitar prowess, his vocals are phenomenal. Every lyric is clearly enunciated, yet sounds relaxed. Every embellishment, lilt, lift and falsetto musing comes off naturally. Case in point is heard in the way he vocally dances around the title of “Weightless.”
“Dreams of Flying” possesses a funky blues quality, like Maroon5’s debut Songs About Jane. Eaton’s singing has that quirky bravado of Adam Levine in the verses but then smoothly transitions to a more melodic mellifluous tone in the chorus and just as easily switches back again. His honeyed voice can sincerely sing the flamenco tinged love song “Who You Are”, and then transform to the more defiant and hurt “Over You” with ease. It embodies a true gift and Eaton candidly and expertly utilizes his voice as an instrument throughout As If You Had Wings.
In “Dismantle the Machine,” drummer Kevin Rogers dexterously lays down a polyrhythmic drum track with inventive precision while Eaton weaves an intricate electric guitar countermelody. He displays rapid fire strumming in the bridge all culminating in the controlled chaos of the coda. Topping that however, is the crazy fun jam at the end of “You Can’t Close You Eyes.” The fast eighth note accompaniment and harmony structure gives “Life in Reverse” an early U2 feel, though Eaton’s vocal delivery and the overall acoustic quality of the song is reminiscent of Shawn McDonald’s debut Simply Nothing. Rogers gets to flex his skills again with a series of rapid sextuplet rolls in the coda.
Great rock artists through the decades have taken interesting lyrics, coupled with complex arrangements, and with a dash of ingenuity make the delivery sound effortless and highly enjoyable. Eaton has achieved this feat on As If You Had Wings and is the apex of what other indie artists should endeavor towards. It is a highly commendable album and fantastic effort by Marcus Eaton.
Review by Kelly O’Neil
