by Brian D. Holland.

Eric Gales, the youngest of a trio of musical brothers from Memphis, started playing guitar at age four. He was taught the upside-down, left-handed style of his grandfather, Dempsey Garett, Sr. (the style of Albert King as well), known to have jammed with the likes of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. One-third of The Gales Brothers Band, Eric was the first to break away from the clan. He signed his first record deal at age 15, releasing The Eric Gales Band, with brother Eugene on bass and Jim Gaines as producer.

The Psychedelic Underground is the latest from guitarist/vocalist Eric Gales. It’s his second produced by Mike Varney, known for his work with Pat Travers, Jason Becker, and Michael Schenker and UFO. Now in his early 30s, with six record releases under his belt, this album continues along a road of creative maturity, with signs of the influential resources that made 2006's Chrystal Vision an album to reckon with. Though he proved his prowess as a musician at a very young age, when we were given the opportunity to hear ‘Hand Writing On The Wall’, from 2001's That’s What I Am, I realized he was taking himself seriously. He took the bull by the horns and ran with it. I began taking him seriously then as well. Though it's only a sporadic feature in his music, the fusion of his style of hard driving guitar rock and rap lyrics is novel in itself.

The album’s opener, ‘Wake Up Call’, is evocative of ‘Hand Writing On The Wall’ in places. The rocked up vibe gets rolling immediately with a sizzling riff that forces a hard thumping groove. ‘Rumble’ doesn’t stray too far from that same mold. The riffs are incredible and the lead solo is scorching. Gales has a knack for keeping the melody fresh and distinct while the guitar riffs and the bass lines charge forward, bowling over everything in their way.

The addictive riff and concrete thunder that sustains throughout ‘I’ve Got Something On You’ makes it a solid rocker. ‘Dark Corners Of My Mind’ is in a slow groove, bluesy and rhythmic, but that doesn’t stop Gales from cutting loose and crying out in melancholic elation near the song's end. His fluid style electrifies in this form as well. ‘Pretty Lie’ is a potent rocker. ‘Psychedelic Underground’, as the title states, is very Hendrix-like and classic sounding. ‘Honey In The Comb’ is a melodic rocker, heavy on guitar crunch and deep in the psychedelic vibe as well. ‘Someday’ is a captivating blues rocker. The rhythmic flow sustains throughout, easily pulling listeners into its infectious groove. ‘Someone Else’s Problem’ is an interesting album closer. Gales mellows into a blues mode, reminding us of his Memphis roots as the album ends.

It wouldn’t be fair to place Gales in the same space as other players, because even though you can perceive influences like Hendrix, Jon Butcher, Vernon Reid, Ernie Isley, Michael Schenker, and Robin Trower in his playing, Gales is innovative and exciting in his own right. An amalgamation of all of these different artists might better define him. Keep in mind that however one might see the style of Eric Gales, it’s guitar and vocal rock, and it’s wonderful just to hear a young guitarist play in this incredible style, one that’s both classic and fresh. It seems a concept album in places, too, one both ‘psychedelic’ and ‘underground’. In my opinion, that can only be a good thing. ‘Psychedelic’ is colorful and moving, while ‘underground’ refers to good music, yet not intended for general listening. That defines the content in The Psychedelic Underground pretty well.

The Psychedelic Underground Track Listing:
1. Wake Up Call
2. Rumble
3. Day Of Reckoning
4. I’ve Got Something On You
5. Dark Corners Of My Mind
6. Pretty Lie
7. The Psychedelic Underground
8. Circling The Drain
9. Honey In The Comb
10. Someday
11. Crossing The Line
12. Someone Else’s Problem

Eric Gales: guitars and vocals
Thomas Pridgen: drums
Steve Evans: bass

With
Mark Robertson: keyboards
Jesse Bradman: background vocals

Released Feb. 20, 2007
Blues Bureau Int’l - A Division of the Shrapnel Group

Link
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