Matt Rink
August 1, 2002
Out of San Diego, California comes this independent prog artist. The quintet consists of founding members (as well as co-songwriters and producers) Neal Hedegard and Roger Nigg (Guitars and Drums, respectively), and is rounded out by Chris Kokesh (Keys), Alan Smithey (bass), and Richard Pavelec (Vocals). Left Coast plays a colorful, hard rock style, with electrifying instrumentation and bluesy/proto vocals.
While not perfect, this charged up
debut has enough melody, maturity, and fire to constitute a formidable release
within the realm of progressive rock. Touching ballads, delicate rockers, and
spirited instrumetals combine to make Worlds of Mystery, a truly unique
and enjoyable offering. The vocalist is reported to have a vey Bowie-like voice,
and though I'm not really familiar enough to register a tremedously educated
opinion, I'll say he reminds me little of the Bowie songs that I know. I hear
more Roger Waters than I do David Bowie. No less, Richard Pavelec's performance
on the CD is alluring, even if his lyric lines are at times akward at best.
While their website, and every article written by a reviewer who barely made it
past the band's promo material, will say that the band's sound bares a likeness
to that of "Rush, Yes, and Queen", I have to confess to hearing little
traces of these artists. Unfortunately, I don't have anything better to suggest,
as I'm pretty hard-pressed to pigeon-hole these guys as any kind of sound-alike.
The closest I can conjure is a more thinly-produced Ice Age, with a hint of
modern rock sensability. Good stuff. I look forward to hearing more from these
guys.
-Matthew A Rink (senior reviewer)
Rating: B / 8.6