Stars and Chandeliers is the latest album from Steve McCormick. Say a Prayer for New York City, the album’s first track, does well to approximate the city. There are sizzling horns, a rapid tempo, and a tremendous amount of narrative that is inserted within this instrumental composition. Say the Word is a touching and deep effort, with McCormick’s vocals pulling double duty. More than just providing lyrical content, Steve’s softly-stated vocals add considerably to the overall instrumental arrangement of the single.
Lying On the Bottom shifts things up considerably. This draws deeper on the blues / bayou rock tradition. This earlier tradition is refreshed nicely by McCormick, who is able to imprint his charismatic sound upon each note of this composition.
Early in the Morning continues this tradition; the call and response of this effor tis given a bit more oomph with a walking bass style. The presence of a harmonica is the cherry on top of this sundae; McCormick is able to go into Fruits of My Labor and No Love Lost with a good momentum. These two tracks are vital on Stars and Chandeliers as they showcase the slower side of Steve.
Sahara is the final track on Stars and Chandeliers. It is a vital effort in that it ties together the disparate styles, sounds and approaches that McCormick had utilized previously on the album. Listeners should tune in to this final effort because it also showcases potential pathways for McCormick to go for the follow-up to this album. Stars and Chandeliers is a tremendously powerful statement; fans will marvel at the deep and intelligent compositions that Steve has placed within. The album is available from DSPs and record stores, including CDBaby and Amazon.
Top Tracks: Say a Prayer for New York City, Lying On the Bottom, Fruits of My Labor
Rating: 8.6/10
Steve McCormick – Stars and Chandeliers / 2017 Self Released / 15 Tracks / http://www.stevemccormick-music.com/ / https://www.facebook.com/Steve-McCormick-Band-108422779223310/
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
Contact: editor@neufutur.com