Rick Manwiller - Living At Square One | ||
| Tracks:
Let Go |
Album Cover:
![[Image]](../../Images/rm_sq1.jpg)
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Label: Confidenial Records Producers: Rick Manwiller Year: 1998 Total Playing Time: 36:33 m:s Review date: 27 Aug 1998 |
| Web site:
Email: | ||
| Rating: 7/8 | ||
| Verdict: Chill out with Rick! | ||
| As a member of Dakota, Rick was responsible for one of my favourite albums to be released last year. Rick and Jerry from the band were also the first band that I interviewed for my web site, shortly after 'The Last Standing Man' was released. During that interview, Rick mentioned that he was working on a second solo album. That solo album is now completed.
Whereas I'd say that Dakota's last album was rooted firmly in AOR, this solo album sees Rick in more of a Westcoast mood, with elements of AOR and mid-West pop on display as well. I haven't heard his first solo album, but I think this a continuation from where it left off. Solo really is the operative word here, with Rick playing all the instruments and doing the vocals himself. Rick is the keyboard player in Dakota, therefore it is no surprise that keyboards are to the fore on this solo outing. It is during the second track that the album starts to warm up. If the first couple of songs don't get your attention, then "This Night" will. A slowie with more than a hint of Chicago. Company, Bump and Blurring The Lines all continue in a laid-back Westcoast vibe. Nasty Li'l Bidness is a 70s funk 'thang'. The Best That I Can Do is an charming ballad and the only song to feature outside collaboration. This was co-written with Jimmy Harness, who also helps out on backing vocals, in 1993. Nothing To Say finishes the album in an uptempo mode with a Westcoast/Toto number. On the first few listens, I wasn't in the right frame of mind for this & kept thinking about how I preferred the more straight-ahead AOR style of Dakota, compared to the laid -back Westcoast keyboards dominated songs on here. When I approached it in a more relaxed mood, it suddenly became more appealing. The playing time is a bit short, but I'm aware of the tight budgets for such solo projects on the artist's own label. My favourite tracks are This Night, The Best I Can Do & Nothing To Say. For me, the album takes a couple of songs to warm up, but once it hits it's stride I find it more engaging than I'd expect from a laid-back album, because I usually like things to 'rock' a little more. An album to relax to. For Dakota fans, and those of you with a perchant for Westcoast, it is well worth further investigation. | ||
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