Indie
Music Stop - L. Anne Carrington
Keith LuBrant is back on the indie music scene with his second CD, Searching
for Signal, and like his previous debut CD, 2001's Face in the Crowd,
it is power pop at its first-rate finest.
This album features guest appearances on vocals from Jim Boggia and
Candy Butchers' Mike Viola. Pete Donnelly of the Figgs can also be heard
playing bass on several of the album's tracks.
Searching for Signal opens up with the title track, which is quite large.
However, the best track of the entire CD would be "This Time Around."
It is absolutely mainstream radio caliber. Other tunes that are catchy
and powerful include "Too Late," "I Survived," the
rocking "Disconnected," and the wistful "Postcards &
Memories" (with Viola on vocals).
All the songs are solid and intriguing; LuBrant's musical style is fresh
and original. His dedication to songwriting is evident in the integrity
and detail that go into the crafting of his music. The only criticism
I have is: what took him so long to put out another album? I certainly
hope it doesn't take as long for his next effort.
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Metro Spirit Magazine
AUGUSTA, GA. - Keith LuBrant is a solid musician. Almost every track on his CD “Searching for Signal” is a hit tune. This is probably the most meticulous CD that I have reviewed so far.
You can hear the vocals clearly and the guitar work is phenomenal. How he can keep up with all the chord changes is amazing. The more I listened to the songs, the more I discovered one hit song after another.
The way by Keith LuBrant plays the guitar throughout this album are stellar! His unique use of its sound in the song called “Postcards and Memories” is combined with a repeat percussion effect in the background, and an amazing lead guitar solo. The overall result is reminiscent of a Joe Perry or Billy Gibbons song.
Another song, “This time around” has a fantastic flanger effect at the beginning of the song with distinctive chords heard all throughout. You can easily hear this song being played on morning talk shows like “Regis and Kelly.”
“Easier” begins with a really good Leslie guitar effect reminiscent of Three Dog Night. I noticed some Wes Montgomery-type chording and a really good guitar solo. I’m guessing that a Strat is being used, and if so, is some serious Strat tone!
LuBrant’s song, “Closer to me,” starts out with a sound that I would guess is a Small Stone Phase Shifter put on a high speed setting. The effect, combined with a great guitar solo, creates another hit tune.
Personally, I like the use of the guitar effects throughout the different songs. I should warn everyone though that I build custom guitar effects and probably have more appreciation for these sound effects than a lot of others. I can promise you that it is a lot harder to use guitar effects than most would assume; a true art form.
The guitar sound effects used by Keith LuBrant throughout this album are stellar! The song called “Postcards and Memories” has its unique repeat percussion effect in the background and an amazing lead guitar solo reminiscent of a Joe Perry or Billy Gibbons song.
I highly recommend Keith LuBrant’s album “Searching for Signal.” The CD is available at keithlubrant.com.
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PowerPolAholic
- Aaron Kupferberg
This adult contemporary pop release follows in the footsteps of greats
like Doug Powell and Cliff Hillis. The first song is the catchy title
tune "Searching for a Signal" and Keith gets some help from
Power pop fan favorite Jim Boggia. The songs benefit from strong lyrics
and clean studio production as well as melodies. Keith's vocals are
strong here, not unlike John Faye or Roger Manning. The Manning comparison
comes forth on "Postcards and memories" with guest Mike Viola
(Candy Butchers). My favorite song here is the coping song "I Survived"
it has lots of great guitar work and insightful lyrics. Occassionally
the songs evoke a roots based sound similar John Cougar Mellencamp on
many tracks, like "My own way" or "easier." The
mid-tempo "Disconnected" chorus has a little Rundgrenesque
quality to it. Sometimes the songs are really good, but missing the
hooks to make it great ("Independence"). That said, it is
a strong release that would be a good addition to your collection.
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The Jersey Beat
(Phil Rainone)
Searching for Signals has that loose, fun feeling of old friends playing
around in the studio. That's not to say that this isn't a very
good quality recording, it definitely is. It's that strong vibe that
you sometimes get when it feels this up close and personal with a band.
The clarity and musical pulse of this record is fresh with "singer
songwriter" stamped all over it. With a shifting backing band-
John Cutillo is on drums, and Pete Donnelly on bass, remain the most
constants.
Like the saying goes, "The sum of the parts is equal to the whole,"
once you get through the entire album, you'll find consistency and very
enjoyable music! The band flirts with pop forms and occasionally share
stylistic ground with some of the pop punk bands like Bowling for Soup
or Blink. Otherwise, these songs are catchy, tangible, and express some
strong narrative ideas ("I Survived," or "Independence"),
and strong internal tempos. Eventually, Keith LuBrant will find a way
to infiltrate the pop music mainstream.
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The
Cutting Edge Magazine
It was a surprise to hear from Keith LuBrant, whose impressive Face
in the Crowd we reviewed in 2001. The guitarist has a knack for memorable
choruses with a hook or two that sticks inside your head. Last we heard
he was working on a set of tribute CDs for Jason Becker and Enuff Znuff.
His new disc is a bit of a departure from his past efforts - Searching
for Signal is more of a laid back affair. The 13-track disc is a mid-tempo
pop record with a strong leaning to Nashville. Now billed as a singer/songwriter,
LuBrant embraces the medium with slick acoustic strumming, layered strings
and the occasional piano/organ blends. Thick on relationships songs
like Easier, the whispered Seven Words or Less and the catchy This Time
Around lean heavily on acoustic strumming that builds to a chorus. The
focus is left to the lyrics, which are kept simple by a single storyline.
A splash of country invades February Day, Postcards and Memories and
the harmony-rich I Survived, all graced with tasty guitar solos that
link to LuBrant’s aggressive side.
Standout tracks include Disconnected, a throwback to 80’s pop icons
Cutting Crew or ‘90s Better than Ezra with a modern rock hook and a
nice build to a powerful chorus. It’s followed a couple tracks later
by the soft shuffle of Someone like You. The song’s charm is in its
Mr. Bojangles undertone and streetwise Italian vibe creating a warm
accordion sound through the keyboards.
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John M. Borack (Goldmine, Amplifier)
"Whether you're dialing up the spirited, power pop-styled numbers
or the more reflective, introspective tunes, everything on Keith LuBrant's
SEARCHING FOR SIGNAL goes down smooth and easy. Nicely done!"
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Steve @ Absolute Power Pop
www.absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com
New Jersey's Keith LuBrant, who burst onto the power pop scene with
2001's Face In The Crowd, is back to give us yet another quality early-year
2007 release with Searching For Signal, due out this week on Kool Kat.
Helping Keith out on this disc are Mike Viola and Jim Boggia, which
is quite appropriate as his style on Searching For Signal is comparable
to a cross between those two. Speaking of the help, Pete Donnelly of
The Figgs plays bass on several tracks as well. Throw in the fact that
Kool Kat is releasing it on their imprint, and the pedigree of power
pop quality is certainly there.
So it's no surprise that say that the tunes come through - from the uptempo title track to the impossibly catchy "Too Late" (perhaps my favorite track of 2007 so far - yeah, I know it's only been 8 days, but the song is really good) to the Michael Carpenter-like "I Survived" to the rocking "Disconnected" to the Neil Finn-esque "February Day" to the wistful "Postcards & Memories", to which Boggia contributes vocals (and which would have fit nicely on Boggia's Safe In Sound), it's one solid track after another.
Intrigued? Then head over to his site, which has samples of all tracks; although they're approximately 30 seconds apiece, they get right to the hooks. And if you're hooked, get it at Kool Kat, where Ray & Co. have a great deal on the disc, complete with a 6-track bonus disc, and the CD itself comes with a code to download nearly 20 additional demos and unreleased tracks from the Searching For Signal recording sessions.
If the first three discs I've featured this year are going to be indicative of the quality of power pop coming down the pike for 2007, I'm going to need to get cracking on a top 200, let alone 100.
Shut Eye Records
11/6/2003 - Dustin Landrum
Gin Blossoms, Goo-Goo Dolls, and Marvelous 3 are just a few of the bands
you seem to favor.The first four tracks have airplay, more airplay,
and fan base written all over them. But, of course, the entire album
is radio friendly. I have never heard anything so consistent. That EVERY
track has the ability to hold it's own alone or with others.
The overall pop catchiness is quite the feat. Guitars
and lyrics so hook-line-and-sinker, leaving or ignoring is out of the
question. The rhythm section is so tight and pop oriented that they
can carry the meat and bread of your lyrics and riffs to levels most
bands only dream of achieving. I can see this going farther than the
average album.
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CD Smash Records
11/6/2003 - Kerry
I have to say: Somebody Sign This Guy! This is pop music just waiting
to happen. Keith’s list of credits alone is enough to fill a book.
He has placed 8 songs on MTV’s “Sorority Life” and
“Fraternity Life” His CD has been picked up to be distributed
by Dreamscape Music and has already received airplay on several radio
stations. And has been featured in/on numerous online zines and publications.
Wait, on second thought who need a label?…… he can do it
all. Keith’s music is pure Pop/Rock with great melodies and sing
along chorus. It’s also a very tightly recorded album. I am very
impressed with the quality production and songwriting. I have been trying
to figure out who he sounds like and the only one that really comes
to mind is Johnny Reznik of The Goo Goo Dolls. I think you have to bring
something different to the table for people to notice you and Keith
brings a buffet. It would be hard to pick a favorite song but I’ll
go with: “The Girl Next Door”, followed closely by “Misunderstood”
& “All I Want To Be”. There are several songs that,
given the chance, would be hits on the radio. But those are the songs
that stand out to me.
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CD Baby
11/6/2003
If you enjoy pop-rock with heaps of hooks,your cd player will thank
you for this indie treat. A perfect marriage of guitar driven pop and
big catchy melodies.
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Not Lame Records
11/6/2003 -
Amazing.....if most of these songs arrived blindly on my desk, I would
have guessed it was Not Lame artist Doug Powell turning it up a wee
bit! Or possibly something new from Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish(we wish!).
But it's not, but needless to say for anyone who has heard the beauty
of those voices , LuBrant has some solid pipes and the sound here is
similar to upbeat Doug Powell, Time Bomb Symphony, Adam Schmitt and
Tommy Keene brand of pop. His sound has been described as "radio-friendly
but not overly sweet, definitely some edge, especially in the guitars
and riff-laden and occasionally quirky arrangements" and that is
accurate. Filled mightily with strains of memorable uptempo songs that
slot nicely on the very pop side of Goo Goo Dolls or AOR pop star Glen
Burtnick. Extremely Highly Recommended!
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Midwestern Skies
11/6/2003 - Pär Winberg
A really nice independent release and Keith has a really pleasant voice.
Give this guy a contract with a budget for a producer such as Julian
Raymond or Tom Lord Alge and you will have a hell of a record for sure.
There are tons of hit singles on here and the production is not bad,
but I hear potential of something much bigger in this guy.
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Tune Vault
11/6/2003 - Steve Donnelly
An opening riff reminiscent of Pearl Jam's "Better Man" is
a good sign, and straight-ahead rock ensues, with hints of Third Eye
Blind, Toad the Wet Sprocket, poppier Goo Goo Dolls, and some elements
of 80's glam and current brit-pop and alt-rock. Very tight playing thanks
to a rock-solid rhythm section and excellent production - radio-friendly
but not overly sweet, definitely some edge, especially in the guitars
and riff-laden and occasionally quirky arrangements.
In the context of this being an indie release, and a debut
release, it is no small feat that "Face In The Crowd" stands
up to most of what's on rock radio these days, through 14 solid songs.
Definitely someone to keep an eye on, all he needs is one big break
and you'll be hearing him on your local "new rock" FM station!
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SFK (the leading Melodic Rock And Pop Daily Ezine)
11/6/2003 - Kurt Torster
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there must be
something in the Jersey water that allows my home state to crank out
melodic rockers like it does. Mr. LuBrant, sounding not a bit unlike
fellow Jersey boy Glen Burtnick, cranks out one hell of a set of arena
rockers that are more Goo Goo Dolls/Marvelous 3 than Bon Jovi. Whether
we’re talking opener “All I Want To Be” or the HUGE
power pop of “The Girl Next Door”, this is just great all
around. Total Jersey vibe throughout, and most know that’s a HUGE
recommendation from me. The man deserves to be a star.
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