Album Details

• Artist: A.j. Rosales
• Album: Resistor
• Label: Novelty Records
• Year of Release: 2004
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: hstisgod on 2007-06-15

It used to be that singer-songwriter records had an echoey haunting production, where you just imagine, even though you hear other instrumentation, its just the writer in the studio.  Well, those times have passed, and even though Shawn Sommer helped out with bass, and Doug Mcbride did a portion of the production, A.J. Rosales is pretty much testament to the old days of singer-songwriter, and its pretty damn good entertainment at that.

 Often times tracks are laden with quick paces finger picking in small progression. Other times, creative little diddy's like Union have a glowing acoustic forte, a soft and mechanicless vocal attribution. Stutter pace, the string work is truly the heart here.  Don't make the mistake of thinking that its ALL acoustic and nothing else.

   Rosales contributes like a one man band playing twelve, six string and octave guitars, piano and organ, tambourine, shakers, sleighbells and vibraslaps to keep you on your heels. 

The title track Resistor is a long armed entrancing track smack dab in the middle of the album showcasing Rosales' real talent, melody and acoustic harmonics.  On the other side of the track is track eight Transistor, an electric answer to the previously mentioned title track, and reeks in similiar quick key fingering till halfway through when an interlude goes moody, and the track climbs back up the mountain it just fell down.

 Though Rosales has a terrific voice, he truly shines best when he's concentrating on making tetris out of his frets.  Don't come looking for generic rock, come listening for acoustic folk with bluesy beat.

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