Search - Casey Stratton :: Standing at the Edge

Theodore C. from MESA, AZ
Reviewed on 11/26/2007...

Pure talent, Pop magic! Praised by both the critics & listeners, deservedly so! Excellent sonics.

Seeps Into Your Soul

Jon Huff | IL United States | 03/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like others who reviewed this album, I discovered it through a listening station at a bookstore. I listened on a whim, and man am I glad I did! From the arresting opening track "For Reasons Unexplained" I was hooked. I listened to a few more tracks, and decided the CD had to be mine. I used my money to buy this CD instead of a few others by more established artists that I wanted. I don't regret it.I'll admit, my first few listens I felt that perhaps it was a bit samey. Somehow, though, I couldn't stop listening and as I listened the identity of the songs began to be drawn in sharp relief.First though, let's comment on his voice. He has quite a range. Thankfully, it's also very pleasing. I don't often like male voices that can go into the stratosphere often because they become shart and displeasing at times (ala Justin Timberlake or moments in Daniel Beddingfield's "You're Not The One") but Stratton has a definite command of his voice, and when he goes into the higher notes they are always smooth and beautiful. He's got a great tone to his voice that definitely stands out from the choked falsetto of some male singers.Then there are the song's themselves. If you were to just read the lyrics, they probably wouldn't blow you away with either their poetry or their intricateness. They are a bit more straightforward then that... but I appreciate that in many ways. They are more sincere, with enough artistic and poetic touches to make them interesting. The delivery and the music drive them home and make it all a pleasing package.It's hard to pick highlights, as they all stand out for different reasons. However, I'd highly recommend the soaring "House of Jupiter," the extremely catchy "Blood" (perhaps my favorite track) to the lovely and gentle "Dead Sea" and "Ocean" and the absolutely heart-breaking "Cellophane" that hit me for personal reasons.There's a lot of emotional depth here, and a lot that a person can connect to, which is what I like to do with music. I'm a college student, and having just got my aid check and with a local music store going out of business, I've purchased about 30 CD's within the last month. This is probably my favorite.It's energizing artistically. It has me really wanting to pick up my guitar again.Do yourself a favor and give him a listen... download his song from I-Tunes so you can get more then just the 30 second clip. I don't think he'll be for everyone, but I do think there are many people out there who would be proud to ad "Standing at the Edge" to their CD collection."

Stunning Debut

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 06/12/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Casey Stratton's CD jumped out of the Barnes & Nobles listening station for me as it has for many of the reviewers here on Amazon. I didn't write down his name or the CD title; I just remembered the haunting strains of "For Reasons Unexplained" and "House of Jupiter." I finally had to search an entire mega-music store to recognize the cover. I'm glad I found it again!For me, there are three jewels in the set. The opening track "For Reasons Unexplained" opens with Casey's arresting piano and his incredible voice on the title track, "If I had been more confident of myself maybe less afraid of everything ... if you had been more honest with me, I might have made it." The track with Abe Laboriel's drums builds subtly to a great dramatic climax. "House of Jupiter" has Casey cruising gracefully in his upper register on the chorus, "It wasn't me then who took you to the edge and watched you fall." Paul Bushnell's bass thumps assuredly giving a backbeat to the make the mix unforgettable. "Blood" is also an exquisite track with Casey's piano seeming to be inspired by Henry Mancini & Peter Gunn with the throbbing rock beat supplied by Brian MacLeod, "And you remind me of my sanity doctor, teleport me out of your design, this is fear -- welcome to my little flood." It is an unforgettable track that ends with some energetic Lamaze-type breathing. Of the other tracks, "Contagious" is a haunting slow melody while "Cellophane" has some interesting electroica flourishes with Casey's delightful vocal. As you listen to Stratton's music, the surface is usually either bright or lush; but when you delve into the lyric, there is a darker undercurrent that feeds the creative tension. This is an impressive beginning that makes Stratton an artist to watch in this decade of zeros. Enjoy!"