Toy Gun Cowboy's (a.k.a. Mathew Erickson) new album, Big Blue, takes us back on a journey into the human race's past since banishment from Eden up to current events, in a countdown from track thirteen to one.

The concept behind his new CD materialized after he witnessed the flight of a Jet Blue airplane, with defective landing gear, fly over his house. Wondering about each passenger's reaction, Erickson aspired to write songs on social differences, like those between men and women, and the many faces of religion. At least, that is what "Chatterbox", "Throwin' Down", and "99.9% of the Time" seem to be about.

Like every artist wanting to put a signature on their work, everything from the music and lyrics, to the recording, was homemade at the G-Hatch... his garage-turned-music-studio.

The album's creative force is its music because there is a unique blend of sounds. With a neat arrangement of guitar, drums, and other electro instruments fused with sounds like birds, an airplane and the ocean, Erickson creates a complex backdrop for his conceptual lyrics.

Although there is an interesting depth to the music, and a pleasant integration of different sounds, it does keep this steady momentum that becomes a bit repetitive.

Perhaps, it is the singing and its unvaried tone that take away from the overall album. The delivery of the lyrics come across as strained in certain songs (i.e. "Soldier On", "Throwin' Down") because the rhyming appears forced.

Songs that stand out: Big Blue No. 2, The Everyday Activities, and Compton Blvd. 4:30am.

Toy Gun Cowboy's Big Blue will be released on May 13 on Gutter Groove Records. Visit the Official Site for more information.

This Reviewer's Rating: 2 / 5

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