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The Spectacular Fantastic: New Equations for the Simple Mind
[Ionik]

The Spectacular Fantastic is the solo project of Mike Detmer.  These songs were recorded in his living room.  I know a thing or two about living room solo recording projects, so I can say with authority that this guy has a sweet sounding living room.

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I have always been a fan of the one-man-band recording projects.  Ive come to expect certain things from the genre primarily a lo-fi ethic and an experimental bent.  Maybe thats what disappoints me about The Spectacular Fantastic its just too damn normal.  The production is phenomenal, as is the performance.  Usually these one-guy-playing-all-the-instruments albums are weighted sure, the guitars sound great but the drums were phoned in...  Not the case with this guy.  If you told me this was a four piece band, recorded in a professional studio, I would believe you.

The music here is straightforward, pop-based moderate rock.  I was hoping for something a little more challenging, but Detmer chose to color inside the lines on this one.  Some of the songs have a country angle that works well, but thats as experimental as it gets.

Superb recording, quality songwriting, flawless performance...  so why dont I love this?  I guess its just a little too middle-of-the-road for my tastes.  The songs are good, but they lack hooks, and by tomorrow I wont remember the melody to any of them.  This is a side-project after all, so maybe Mike is saving his best work for his real band, Folk?

This album can be purchased fromIonik Records

The Spectacular Fantastic Official Website

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