Search - Lyal Strickland :: Goodbyes Last Forever

Say hello to "Goodbyes..."

David K. Gray | Springdale, AR | 11/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Virtuoso. Webster's dictionary defines virtuoso as "a highly skilled musical performer". They could just as easily have shown a picture of Lyal Strickland and saved some ink. Lyal Strickland is definitely a highly skilled musical performer and his latest 2004 release on Shedding Dog Records, Goodbyes Last Forever, amply displays his skills. The cd not only showcases his adroit guitar playing but also highlights his superb song writing ability as well.



Goodbyes Last Forever features 14 songs all written by Strickland. But that's not all. Strickland performs all of the musical arrangements, instruments, vocals and harmonies. He is truly a one-man band.



At first blush, his frenetic acoustic guitar strumming grabs your attention followed by his unique vocal styling. However, the real crux of his music is the lyrics. Wise beyond his youthful years, the depth of his lyrics belies his age. Stickland sings about life and love, both lost and found.



The 2nd cut, "Shot of Suicide", is not the dark and brooding, cry for help that the title invokes, but nevertheless focuses on the self-centeredness of youth that teen angst tends to produce. With lyrics like "I know there's people that are worse off than me but they're half-way around the world and hard to see, so let me whine about me, let me cry about me. I'm not really that hard to please, just get everyone down on their knees, for me" makes it pretty clear that it's all about me. It is a common perception for many a teenager. The song also demonstrates Strickland's ability to finger pick an acoustic guitar while offering a bit of Dylan-esque harmonica overdub.



The next song, "Rebel on a Binge", is a song about rejection. We've all faced it. You know the schtick, the one about "can't we just be friends?" that is often used instead of "I don't want you anymore". Strickland deals with this encounter like this: "How could I have told you the truth? It was better off lying and trying to hide these feelings inside of me, but I did what had to be done, may those feelings go down with the rose-red sun, `cause you said you didn't want to be anymore than just friends. The occasional good girl, good guy gone bad, rebel on a binge. Well if this is what friendship is, then I want it to end. And I wish I had no friends, to bring me down tonight."



"Ridiculed" follows, which appears to be heavily influenced by Nirvana. This song also showcases Strickland's electric lead guitar prowess, overdubbed onto his acoustic rhythm guitar licks. Another influence that comes to this reviewer's mind is evident in "Burden to Bear" which features more Dylan-esque harmonica and vocals. Although this song seems to be more of a Jakob rather than father Bob influenced number, with a distinct Wallflowers sound to it.



"The Clock on the Wall" is two songs in one, combining both the sounds of the Wallflowers in the first half, and then breaking into a Nirvana-like bridge that could have come straight from Curt Cobain's basement. Singing "sometimes I give in to the demons within me. I want to set them free, they taught me not to hate but it's just hard to face it everyday. No matter what they say, we never learn it more than when the tables are turned. We become filled with scorn and we stay forlorn."



But Strickland is not Cobain, and this cd is not dark and dismal throughout. In fact, the overall theme offers hope. Despite the travails of life, the hurt that we all face, life goes on. It is up to us to make the most of it by giving and taking all that life has to offer.



"Goodbyes Last Forever" is a very enjoyable and listenable cd that displays the considerable talents of Lyal Strickland, an up and coming singer, songwriter, and multi-talented musician.



So the next time you hear someone mention virtuoso, think of Lyal Strickland. Better yet, buy this cd, then you can pop it into your player and listen to a virtuoso, rather than just thinking about one."