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Create a mix rich in the classic rock sounds of Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles, mix in the funk of Prince and James Brown, and sprinkle in dashes of Romantic and rock poetry, and you'll have an impression of the sound of Brian Hartzog's new CD, The Smashing of Pictures. It was under the inspiration of such soul-inspiring artists that a native of Kinston, NC, compounded lyrics of poetry and sentiment, fired-up with his original music to produce this first-ever release. "I've been writing songs since I was 14, " said an ambitious Hartzog. Ambition is an understatement when it comes to his music. Hartzog not only wrote and sang all the songs on his new funk and roll CD, he also played all of the instruments on it, and produced the disc himself. How is this possible? According to Hartzog, "It's a sign of the time...with all of today's affordable technology--affordable studios are everywhere." Hartzog said his project was feasible because he compromised on finance and not on quality. His compact digital audio release was recorded not in a million-dollar recording studio, but in a project studio down in the Carolinas, with all the sounds and trimmings good music upholds.
Brian Hartzog's mix of funk and rock has a certain quality to it that is distinctively independent from the sounds of his influences. "Prince was a major influence on me, " Hartzog said. "The way he could just play one lick and you never heard it again...how each song was different and unique. As a songwriter, that's important." Although Hartzog names Prince as a major influence, he confirms that his music has a diversity of its own. He said in the future, he'll be adding a twist of jazz to an already extraordinary sound that sometimes includes even a little bit of rap. Such influences will be contributed by newcomers who will join Hartzog in creating a new band. "It's a really interesting mix," Hartzog said. "We have a lot of the same influences, Prince being number one, and Hendrix...but we also mix in our own flavors. I'm into spoken word poetry, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles. The other guys mix in their own sounds--jazz, reggae, etc. We play very differently, but I think we can trade off and improvise a lot from that. That's what we're really looking to do."
Hartzog said art is about expressing emotion. "Each song on the disc displays a certain feeling...that's why I wanted the first words of the first song to be 'Love Me' (from the song "Modest Appeal") and the last words of the last song to be 'I love you' (from the song "Been My Baby"). Sentiments develop as a result of a situation. People are involved in situations that create emotion and an artist's job is to express that emotion. If I can make someone feel something that I've felt, then I've done my job."
--Youree Oh, Richmond Times |
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"To sum it up: Brian Hartzog is one of the most singular sounds on the Charlotte scene.
He's also one of the articulate proponents you'll find for making music on your own
terms. He's equally adept and comfortable at playing to "alternative" crowds as he is
playing to blues and rock crowds."
--Glenn Gibson
ANDTHEHIPPOSWEREBOILED INTHEIRTANKS
An auspicious, ambitious debut from Hartzog, who performed and recorded all the tracks
on The Smashing Of Pictures. His bio cites the influence of Hendrix and Prince and yup,
there's all the instrumental swagger you might expect. Hartzog is a sure, strong
guitarist, as he proves in heavy rockers like"Getting Stronger" and "Daily Bread" (the
latter also reveals Dylan's vocal lessons, in delivery not timbre)...Overall, it's a
fine record, with at least one killer song: "The ThingYou Love," a blistering cross of
MC 900 Foot Jesus and Black Sabbath.
Jim Santo
Demo Universe
"Global impact best describes the promotional capabilities of an informative,
entertaining web-site, and "world class style" aptly fits the site of local Brian
Hartzog."
--Grace
Charlotte's Best
Straightforward, good time funk rock, the likes of which I haven't found in Charlotte in
a while. There isn't a bad moment on this solo effort, where the influence of artists
like Prince and Jimi Hendrix are obvious. Not to say he's copying them. No, far from it.
Hartzog's got his own style, but it's a sound we all know and love. Highlights include
the guitar-driven "The Thing You Love" and the funked out "All Over You." Very
impressive for a self-produced solo effort.
--Melanie
Tangents
Charlotte, North Carolina
"The Thing You Love" has the gritty, nineties, angry hard rock edge to it. "Oh!
Yoko/Dear John" just screams folk-influenced arena rock. "Common Ground" fuses funk
(even hip hop) rhythms into a guitar-driven pop song. Ballad "Been My Baby" tugs at
heartstrings. The album is so diverse, it's not easy to label, and fans of good, catchy
broad range of styles within the confines of a single, genre-crossing disc are sure to
like what they hear in Hartzog.
--Geoff Wilbur
Renegade Newsletter
Grand Rapids, Michigan
A varied set of songs that bounces from one genre to another, mixing some Prince and
Dylan with an AOR gloss.
Hmmm...
Bellingham, Washington
I'm pretty impressed considering there's no weak points, he seems equally adept with
each and every instrument...the lyrics are very interesting, not run of the mill...he
has his own style that only complements, not mimics, his influences.
--L.C.
Rockline
Hudson, NY
A damned ambitious sounding album, one that doesn't fit into any easily-defined slot.
Aiding and Abetting
St. Petersburg, FL
On The Smashing of Pictures, his debut album, Hartzog experiments with sonic guitar
distortion the way Hendrix did, and his eclectic songwriting is similar to Prince's...a
good debut.
--Mac Slocum
The Collegian
I think he'd be an interesting person to speak with. He has original and concrete ideas
about art and the music industry...It's a great CD...
--Brianne Moore
Richmond Times Dispatch
"Call it a type of concept album, but not one that tells a story. Instead, it is a
collection of songs that capture an emotion."
Banned Thoughts
If you like Prince, Hendrix, and Dylan...this should be for you. Brian combines many of
these elements with a twist of his own.
Magic Bus Forum
He really starts the disc off right with "Modest Appeal" and "The Thing You Love". Both
songs let everything hang loose, and give no evidence that this is the work of a young
artist...the keyboards, the blazing guitar, the breathy voices...shockingly truthful
lyrics.
--Mark Parekh
ES Magazine
"The Smashing of Pictures is the best song on the release --heavy rock 'n roll stuff
with some good vocal effects."
--Static Zine #13
Hartzog is a sure, strong guitarist, as he proves in heavy rockers like "Getting
Stronger" and Daily Bread". Overall, it's a fine record, with at least one killer song:
"The Thing You Love."
--Mac Slocum
The Collegian |
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Location:
Charlotte NC, United States
Brian Brian Hartzog Website
brian@brianhartzog.com
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