Cons and Prose, Cryin’ Out Loud (Single) (Independent)

The title track of this CD single is a rock and roll anthem in which lead singer Rik Slave, vents his anger—but the anger is offset by the song’s lamenting subtext. It’s perfect rage and well fit for head banging. The second track, “Starvin’” starts off in a melodic, almost hypnotic beat and picks up to a steady rock tempo, sounding much like the Beatles’ “Revolution.” “Starvin’” while repetitive is somewhat addictive, save for the overly heavy background vocals while “Cryin’” is lyrically and musically stronger. Bassist Al Small, guitarists Whitney Brown and Chance Casteel and drummer Keith Hajjar provide the ideal background for the CD. The sound that the band is channeling is a little bit David Bowie mixed with some later sounding Beatles. It’s a power rock disc, decent but not for the lighthearted. The vocals are good for a two-track starter; the backgrounds are by far the best and help make the album a strong contender.