Circus Mind: Joy Machine

Are you ready to have a blast with Circus Mind? Their latest CD Joy Machine will supercharge your summer with funky jams, rocking guitar, and ear worms that will burrow into your mind and refuse to leave. Leader and main songwriter Mark Rechler (vocals & keyboards) not only knows how to write a hook, he surrounds these melodies with a diverse blend of influences, as each track has its own flavor, and yet this album feels cohesive. Rechler’s unique gravelly voice gives the songs additional punch; he sings from the gut, I can imagine him going for broke live pushing the band forward. The first single “Are You Ready?� kicks things off with a straight ahead rocker and is followed up by the title track which has a late 60’s pop vibe with its punchy keyboard line. The laid back “Air Waves� might be my favorite track, a dirty groove that leads into an awesome bridge and chorus, this song demands to be cranked up, but then again, the entire disc begs to be played loud! Horns and wonderful guitar soloing propel “Mean Mutha Fucka� into a complex jam that hits hard. I also get some southern rock influence in spots, an example is “Longing Song� during the verses, but the chorus and break are pure pop bliss. “Jazzfest Time� conjures up a New Orleans vibe that also has a heavy influence on the band, if this one doesn’t get your toes tapping, not sure what to tell you! Speaking of pop bliss, try “Errand Boy� on for size, some great vocals, a psychedelic Beatles meets Jellyfish type song.

The band has brought in a number of guests such as Brandon “Taz� Nierderauer, Nels Cline, and Ivan Neville among others to add a little spice to the mix. And let’s not forget the core band that is phenomenal, great players in their own right. There is not a clunker to be found here, and this CD is pure summertime fun in the sun. Crank this one up, loud!!

Track Listing

1. Are You Ready? (4:18)
2. Joy Machine (5:29)
3. Air Waves (5:07)
4. Mean Mutha Fucka (5:24)
5. Longing Song (5:06)
6. Jazzfest Time (3:59)
7. Errand Boy (3:25)
8. Three Muses (4:26)
9. Nutbag (3:29)
10. Troubled Times (5:35)

Added: June 21st 2021
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 1479
Language: english

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