|
|
|
BANDS: Punk
& Ska INTERESTS: Venues ETC... About LOTD
|
Ed Alkalay: Turning Dorian Gray
Is it folk?
Is it country? Blues, maybe? Or
bluegrass? Is it alternative?
Your guess is as good as mine. The
only thing for sure is that Ed Alkalay is turning
dorian gray and the D.C. scene red hot with his cool lyrics and powerful
voice. With vocals that can go as
low as Brad Roberts of the Crash Test Dummies, Alkalays voice is as
encompassing as his music. Turning Dorian Gray can
best be described as a diverse collection of biographies.
Each song paints a vivid picture of someone we love, someone we hate,
someone we want to be, or someone we are. The
title track describes an individual consumed with the never-ending social
circle. Alkalay bellows: You stand so tall, youve worked so hard, to turn
yourself into a cocktail party star. "Marie"
is the next image put to music. A
woman who was taken from her lover leaves an indelible scar on his heart and
mind. Naturally, this story is set in a ballad.
Other identities include: The
Blind Man (He was not a
man to follow but he would never lead) Rovin
Gambler (who stole the love
of a pretty little girl from her mother) A
Two Faced Lady and a Two Timin Man
(the irony of four lovers who live inside two people) One unique personality is that
of the mother/wife in A
Quiet Ticking." Alkalay
offers a look into a woman who chose the family route instead of pursuing her
passion as an artist. With
masterful lyrics, Alkalay shows that her lifes choice is filled with a
different type of artistry. One of the most powerful tracks on the disc, A
Better Version Of Me, addresses the emotions that come with being
replaced. With driving bluegrass
overtones, Alkalay launches: I
can stand being loved, I can stand being hated; but lord I cant deal with
being replaced; like some tired machine the world no longer needs cause some
genius invented a better version of me.
If Turning Dorian Gray doesnt put Alkalay on the map, I suggest he continue his progression south. (He was previously of the NYC folk scene). I think he might find his niche somewhere between D.C. and Nashville. If you dont like the music, buy the disc anyway and read the twelve masterfully written short stories inside.
You can purchase music by Ed Alkalay from Amazon & Insound LEFT OFF THE DIAL's Ed Alkalay page About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content © LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
