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Reviews

Art in America — Art in America
(Renaissance RMED-103, 1983/2008, CD)

by Mike Grimes, Published 1997-05-01

Art in America Cover art

So many albums from the early 80s that weren't big sellers got lost in shuffle when the CD medium took the world by storm. If an album wasn't brand new or a "classic," it was going to be a while before it was released on CD — case in point, Art In America. Consisting of members of the family Flynn — Chris on vocals and guitar, Shishonee on vocals and string harp, and Dan on drums and percussion — the band originally released their self-titled album in 1983 and had several big names associated with it. Eddy Offord of Yes and ELP fame was the producer and engineer, Bob Ludwig mastered, and T. Lavitz and Steve Morse from The Dregs added keyboards and arranged. Although not credited with playing guitar on the album, I suspect Steve Morse did add a thing or two in this respect. The guitar solo and fills on "Undercover Lover" (don't shoot me, I didn't come up with the title) sound too familiar and Morse-like to be anyone else. The sound of the group falls somewhere in the Asia or GTR camp. It's basically pop with a few hints of prog here and there. The focus is on the songs and there aren't many standout instrumental highlights. The harp is fairly prominent and that gives the band a slightly different sound. Lavitz must have just been sitting around the studio on recording day because he disappointingly does next to nothing on the album, spending most of his time holding down chord pads, or adding the occasional harmony line. If you absolutely love anything with harp on it, or are a Dregs or Morse completist, definitely get this album. Otherwise...

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 12, 2008 releases, 1983 recordings

Related artist(s): Art in America, Steve Morse

 

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