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Robin Gottfried - Pelican Crash Dive

By Rikks Revues writer - Teresa Liao

Robin Gottfried is the ultimate one-man band. The versatility of the man is incredible. Not only is he a singer/songwriter who plays the piano, guitar, bass and percussion; but he is also the producer/engineer of his own CDs. Gottfried's fourth and latest creation, Pelican Crash Dive, brings back the old school sound. The lyrics are simple and the music is clean, no need for extraneous sounds or unintelligible lyrics.

With eight songs on the album, Robin Gottfried is able to display all of his talents as a music man - a well-rehearsed singer with an ear for perfection. There's no room for sloppiness in this album. The notes are hit and the beats are adhered to. On the other hand, lyrics and the melody are not nearly as regimented. Robin Gottfried lets the songs take him where they will.

Like most albums out there, Gottfried has included several love songs. "Stay With Me" is one of those slow one-line chorus ballads that you roll your eyes to if you're not feeling that particular sentiment, but will tear-up to if you are. It's the song that you'll hear during the scene in a big motion picture where the couple is sitting at a fancy restaurant debating whether they should stay together or not. "(Got to Get Your) Loving' Off My Mind" is a bit more direct with a catchy beat and good rhythm.

As for the other songs, they're just quirky enough to almost fall out of the category. "Just By Chance" isn't a different kind of love ballad because of the song itself, it's unique because of its deliberate delivery. With the added high notes and guitar licks, the song is very entertaining. One song up the play list is "Tango of Your Life". The song may be about love, but it has more to do with the behaviors of love rather than the emotion itself. Listen to the song once or twice and Robin Gottfried  will have you remembering those awkward junior high school years. The other 'almost' love song is "Once Upon a Woman". I almost want to put the song in the angry country love song pile, but it's got a little bit too much rock & roll and a lot more humor, a hard thing to do considering some of the country songs out there.

"Pelican Crash Drive", my favorite song on the album, again is an 'almost' love song. I'm not entirely sure what a pelican crash drive is, but the song is great fun to listen to. "New York City" is a surprisingly melancholy song about chasing dreams in the big city. "Rehearsals", the only on the album song not written by Gottfried, is a somber piece about life and death.

Robin Gottfried's headshot on the album jacket says it all. Pelican Crash Dive delivers everything of this man. It's nothing too dressed up, just good old-fashioned rock n' roll music with a slightly unconventional twist that you can enjoy. The only word of advice to Gottfried and his music is, "Let us hear more."

  ( 4.5 Stars out of 6 )

` To listen to MP3 clips click play or text link! 1. Pelican Crash Dive 2. (got to get your) Loving Off My Mind 3. New York City 4. Once Upon a Woman 5. Stay With Me 6. Tango of Your Life 7. Just By Chance 8. Rehearsals

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