Conner Gilber is a great friend of mine and a great musician as well. We have played a countless number of shows together over the years and it is my hope that you check out his site at www.myspace.com/connergilbertmusic . Here is a little bit about Conner....
"Recently arriving in the Altoona area to become sports information director at Penn State Altoona, Hagerstown native Conner Gilbert is also a musician, and introduces a bright, acoustic-geared pop rock sound on his first solo CD, "The View from Within."
Singing and playing guitars, bass and sharing keyboard duties with Christian Harper, Gilbert's sound is rooted in both the pop songcraft tradition of the Beatles and Beach Boys, as well as the '90s pop rock ingenuity of Matthew Sweet and Oasis.
Gilbert shows a strong knack for song hooks throughout the album, and mixes up the flavors over the disc's dozen tracks.
The opener "Since You've Been Away," with its layered choruses and vocal harmonies, recalls "Pet Sounds"-era Beach Boys; while the modern-ish "Nowhere" exudes touches of Beatle-like far-eastern psychedelia. Gilbert taps into more recent influences as well; the acoustic-driven "Susannah" provides a Goo Goo Dolls flavor; while "The Prospect," "Lost In A City In Your Mind" and the disc-closer "There's No Way In The World" are more firmly rooted in Oasis.
All 12 songs are infectious and stand well on their own, yet work well together as a complete set. The overall vibe is pleasant and colorful; with the balance of keys, acoustic and electric guitars, and Gilbert's soaring voice and vocal harmonies providing a fresh listen from start to end.
To obtain the CD, visit www.myspace.com/connergilbertmusic.
-Jim Price" |
