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Psychoteria: I Think I'll Just Stay Home

Psychoteria is the music project of guitarist and engineer Errol Antzis, and I Think I'll Just Stay Home is his third release under the Psychoteria monicker. Stylistically, we are dealing with guitar-driven melodic rock – and it is guitar-driven to the point that the other instrumentation often takes the backseat – especially the drumming – to let the guitar do its work.

And there certainly is plenty of guitar on this album. There is the obligatory overdriven rock guitar and dirty rock solos, but that is not all. Having an engineer background, it seems to me that Antzis experiments a lot with the soundbanks in his effect boards – and we are not talking about weird effects, but different types of clean guitars and overdriven guitars (which is the whole premise of a track like 'The Soft and the Hard' I think). I especially like his use of clean guitars – especially when he takes a more funky approach as in 'Acting Class – R&B', 'Anatomy', and 'I Don't Know', which also contains some more hard-hitting elements. Moreover, his soloing draws on everything from rock over funk to jazz.

While the guitar work is in focus, and for the most part enjoyable, I think it is a shame that the other instrumentation does is not given more attention. The drumming – although a session drummer does appear on the album – sounds like it was probrammed in some tracks and the bass, while playing some notable ostinatos now and then, could also have been given more reign as it were.

In any case, this album should appeal to those who like guitar-driven melodic rock and those who like to hear how you can combine different guitar sounds into a holistic unit in every song.


Track Listing:
1. Way Out
2. Acting Class – R&B
3. I Think I'll Just Stay At Home
4. The Soft and the Hard
5. Acting Class – Pop
6. Anatomy
7. The Loner
8. Can't Get Away
9. I Don't Know
10. It's Only Love
11. Acting Class – Rock
12. Used to Be

Added: July 27th 2011
Reviewer: Kim Jensen
Score:
Related Link: Artist Website
Hits: 2420
Language: english

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Psychoteria: I Think I'll Just Stay Home
Posted by Steven Reid, SoT Staff Writer on 2011-07-26 14:44:51
My Score:

It is always a great pleasure to get an album to review that is pleasingly difficult to categorise and so it proves for I Think I'll Just Stay At Home, which is the third album from Psychoteria. Most albums that do refuse to be neatly pigeon-holed fall into the progressive category in some shape or form and while Psychoteria have served up a collection of songs that are indeed progressive in outlook, in execution they have an easy going, airy 70's vibe that incorporates rock and pop with the merest smidge of prog as well as some tasty guitar pyrotechnics. So what you end up with is an album that avoids clichιs, and somehow "rocks out" while eschewing many of the stereotypes expected. For example the lack, for the main, of distorted guitars immediately adds a different aspect to these songs and the constant mix of vocal and instrumental songs also offers an alternative take on things.

In name they may appear to be a band, however in essence Psychoteria are actually M.I.T. graduate Errol Antzis and some high profile guests. Antzis happily and very ably handles guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion and vocals, but with cameos from the likes of drummer extraordinaire Jonathon Mover and guitarist Jan Akkerman, you can rest assured that each beat and every note is lovingly crafted.

The album's title track bounces along on a excellent riff, resulting in a catchy rock number that almost veers into funk, and with Antzis's instantly likeable drawl adding a more accessible bent, there's no denying that this music has the potential to appeal to a wide cross section of music lovers. The moods come and go across the album, with "Way Out" adding a little more atmospheric beef to the pop-rock, while "I Don't Know" cranks in with hard hitting guitars, but still has the ability to turn into a verse that's more restrained and funky, not to mention the impressive and interesting vocal arrangements. The Beatles are brought to mind with the jaunty "Its Only Love", while the almost country approach of "The Loner" offers yet another side to what Antzis has to offer. Add to that three little instrumental showcases in the shape of Psychoteria's "Acting Classes", with "R&B", "Rock" and "Pop" doing pretty much exactly what they say on the tin and you have a classy and hugely satisfying album that draws strength from its eclecticism. The guitar work across the whole album is a joy, with Antzis able to let fly on numerous occasions without ever stroking his ego and even during the instrumentals the fiery fretwork never threatens to overshadow the actual songs themselves.

If you're looking for a classy album that rocks, pops and progs in all the right places, then I've no hesitation in suggesting that you spend the tail end of the summer locked away from the outside world with I Think I'll Just Stay At Home.



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