Kingdom Of Mustang
Independent release, 2018
http://store.cdbaby.com/cd/kingdomofmustang
REVIEW BY: Pete Crigler
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 03/09/2018
On this project featuring singer/songwriter Mark Roebuck (formerly of The Deal) and a group of friends/fellow musicians, the lineup really gives it everything they have. This is a seventeen-track, hour-plus record written by Roebuck and bassist/singer Tim Ryan. The band has a ‘70s, easy listening kind of feel. Hearing the opening title track, I get a Firefall sort of vibe when I listen to them, which really does a lot to help enhance the song. “Love Lost Love” also seems a bit like Firefall, and that’s not a bad thing at all.
“Alwayswhereyouare” has a nice mellow attitude to it; it’s not too loud and heavy and just right for the general masses. It also features nice harmony vocals from the whole band, and overall, it is definitely a highlight.
Overambitious is definitely the standout term for a record like this, and while there are some truly great songs, others like “Sister Sledgehammer” could’ve been relegated to B-side status. The performance just really isn’t up to snuff. The quickness of “Let Go” makes up for it; this one is another brisk tune that works and has a nice mellow vibe. The best way to describe this record is ‘rock music without the RAWK!’
“Satin Rag” is about as downtrodden as the band gets, and while it’s a good enough track, it’s incredibly depressing given the almost upbeat nature of the rest of the record. Still, this is definitely worth a listen to counterbalance the rest of the songs here. The band doesn’t really get heavy until “Ketamine,” when they turn up the amps and really go for the gold. Even though they’re a bit heavier here, the harmonies are still omnipresent and everything works really well together, making it a different sort of rock song with big guitars and perfect harmonies.
The album’s closing track, “Live Wire,” brings all their influences together into a well portioned sonic platter. In the end, this may be one of the most awe-inspiring projects of the year. It turned out well and ended up featuring some really good songs, making it another notch in Mark Roebuck’s already weighty musical crown.