MIKE STAND
FULL CIRCLE
2002 Galaxy 21 Music
Purchase: AltarBoys.com
Review by: Steve Ruff
Mike Stand has always put out really good music. Of course The Altar Boys were innovative in the scene, but I really enjoyed his solo work much more. Maybe it was the lyrical content that was very different from the band’s work, I’m not really sure. Anyway, I was telling him how much I liked his solo records when he said, “Thanks for your thoughts on my solo recordings….each one is unique in their own way. I actually prefer Full Circle and listen to it often. Not to gloat over what I have done, but I enjoy hearing how Bob Hartry and others on that recording just added so much depth and quality to my songs…the songs aren’t bad either.” Of course, I grabbed Full Circle and popped it in the player because it had been a while since I had listened to it. It is definitely a great record, and I was shocked that there were 15 different people who played on it. It is the best of both worlds, introspective lyrics like I love from his solo ventures, and great musicianship from a band that sounds very cohesive and full. The instruments are plenty as well, there are the typical guitars (acoustic and electric) and bass, but you also find the violin, viola, cello, accordion and tin whistle in here. I guess you could classify this as straight up rock and roll, but there are slower offerings like the title track, and more amped up songs like “Bound To The Unknown”. All in all, a great record that sounds very “Beatlesque” as a whole. This one came out in 2002, but fortunately it is still available in a couple of places.
www.altarboys.com (pick up Simple Expressions while you’re there)
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