uite honestly, I have never been one to listen to solo guitar music; perhaps because I play the guitar and sometimes become quite inured to other music on the same instrument. Or perhaps I wish I could have taught myself to play just as easily as Rob makes it sound. I know it isn't. However, I did take the time to actually listen to and appreciate Young's very capable and deft handling of his compositions.
Energetic is one word I could use to describe the acoustic guitar music on this re-release of Young's first album. Its opening number, "Wandering Minds," certainly begins that way, and the rest of the songs modulate between that and more leisurely paced ones. Fast finger work, sprightly melodies, harmonics, weird tunings and rhythmic strumming all blend together to achieve an enjoyable twenty-five minutes of dynamic tunes that include the brisk "Checkered Past" and "Windsong," the winsome "Jeremy," and the melancholic "Perfect Strangers."
"Rob sent me Consistent Variation and I was just blown away. It had been years - literally fifteen years since I'd heard a voice so new, so unique, and so powerful on the steel-string guitar." (Will Ackerman)
For that unique voice and a gutsy album of virtuoso guitar playing, a mix of heavy metal influences but with a very personal touch, grab a copy of Consistent Variation. Rob previously released Sticks & Stones in 1997, and is currently awaiting the release of his newest, SPEAK!, as well as his Music for Film, and a new collection of solo guitar music, What I Believe.
My Favourite: "Wandering Minds".
uite honestly, I have never been one to listen to solo guitar music; perhaps because I play the guitar and sometimes become quite inured to other music on the same instrument. Or perhaps I wish I could have taught myself to play just as easily as Rob makes it sound. I know it isn't. However, I did take the time to actually listen to and appreciate Young's very capable and deft handling of his compositions.
