MP3 Steven James - Life Starts Now

Singer songwriter Steven James rocks with his wry lyrical wit and crack band, throwing in bits of alt country for added flavor

10 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Emo, ROCK: Folk Rock



Details:
"Pull your chair close little one, I'd like to take some of your time, 'Cause finally after all these years I'm confessing to my crime," sneers Steven James, the self-described Snake Oil Salesman on his third independent release in as many years. The new CD, entitled Life Starts Now, makes one wonder if his biggest crime is refusing to surrender the relative comfort of his full-time position as an art director and not more ambitiously pursue his craft as a most literate singer-songwriter.
James, a veteran of several LA bands including All About Steve, Beyond Belief and Cryin' Out Loud, has skipped the club scene this time out and headed straight to the studio with some new tunes and a few of his old classics.
For Life Starts Now, he's recruited classically trained guitarist Steve McKnight, who's many credits include a stint as lead guitarist for IRS recording artists "Cry Wolf," and collaborations with artists as diverse as Dweezil Zappa and Neil Turbin. To fill out the bottom end, he's hooked up with long-time cohort Raymond Esparza on bass, who also plays with the 12-piece latin ensemble Brotherhood, in addition to the blues band known as Rebirth. To keep matters steady, he's once again enlisted Scott Sadlon on drums, who's partnering with James goes back to their mid-'90s power pop band, All About Steve, and who currently plays with LA scenesters How to Win At Life. On organ, you'll hear Herman Jackson, who's played with everyone from Rod Stewart to Stevie Wonder, and production is once again handled by Michael Vail Bloom, who's worked with likes of the Who, Madonna and Jesse Valenzuela of the Gin Blossoms to name just a few.
Life Starts Now opens with the good-natured sarcasm of "Get A Cause," with James snarling at the frivolous life of what seems to be yet another bored LA socialite. The CD then segues into the hauntingly dark, observations of "Christina In the Mirror," a sadly beautiful look back at an old troubled acquaintance. The third song features James in his best ballad mode, borrowing equally from the Young Rascals and ancient Irish folk melodies for the lovely "Brennon Town." The fourth track kicks into high gear with one of his most confessional classics, "Snake Oil Salesman." The CD then sways into the alt country vein with the folksy "Sorry," followed by "Same Train," a mellow anthem to the woes of working. On track seven the sound swerves towards classic grunge with "Place The Blame," before it goes off into the pure pop bliss of "Crumbing Church," and "Falling Fast." The CD closes out with the introspective "If I Didn't Say," which features James at his most vulnerable and melodic. Give it a listen, you won't be disappointed.