Highly Suspect Brings Fresh Blood To The Rock Rumble

Although you wouldn't confuse "Bloodfeather" with the oh so excellent "Lydia", Highly Suspect is to be commended for mixing up the chords they use to paint with. "Bloodfeather" has a faster gait working in its favor. "Lydia" proved itself calculating, each beat drawn out for maximum uneasiness. "Bloodfeather" has as its function service as a sleek guitar driven jangler which goes great with your favorite margarita or wine spritzer. Johnny Stevens demonstrates a real talent for eye-opening poetry. "A Georgia rain just kissed my lips" leaves little to the imagination. Sultry old school plantation vistas grip you fully. Not only that, he uses a homonym in the third line, specifically "Steady the rein, girl." At the chorus he gets a simile coaxed out of his verdant imagination. Note "You fit me like a glove when I'm inside of you." Kind of invites you to the Sodom and Gomorrah bacchanalia without your physical presence being requested. What a rich picture of the lady who is, was, and always will be his everything. Ladies, it's up to you to decide whether or not you'd consider sentiments like, "Your eyes, they could cut through diamonds and steel. For real, they're sharper than the blade in your hand" flattering or hideously offensive. Turning to the sound itself, the lube job greasing these wheels stuns beyond measure. Keeping the flow going keeps this Cape Cod trio in good stead. Much of the magic belongs credited to bass player Rich Meyer whose infectious vibrations leave an incredible trail extending for days. Does this outfit come complete with enough swagger to drive a pro football team wild? Not really. The guys are too self-assured in what they're selling to require macho posturing. Technically Highly Suspect prove with both "Lydia" and "Bloodfeather" that versatility is a trait it knows well. You can respect a group that doesn't milk a marketable formula until it's bone dry. If significant chord changes can grab an audience's attention Highly Suspect is equal to the task. Moreover you're not going to make out the "Look at me, I'm a genius" instrumental parlor games one often gets at the bridge of a song. In the final analysis does "Bloodfeather" hold up if you crank it up many, many times? Not exactly but, if vicarious thrills in the short term excite you, then "Bloodfeather" surely has the stones to get you pumped as long as possible.