Los Angeles guitarist Michael Elsner got his start working on projects with the likes of Jon Anderson and Michael McDonald, segued into film and television work ("Juno" and "Baywatch") and ultimately released Stained Voodoo in 2006 – his first solo CD of instrumental guitar-driven music. Fleshed out with full band arrangements, most of the 10 songs on this thing sound like you think they should – based simply on their titles. Opener "Crack Puppies," for example, rocks with twisted attitude, and "Tsunami" is one of the most aggressive pieces on Stained Voodoo. "Stained" boasts a nasty hook and a dirty vibe, "Voodoo" indulges in the blues and "Satch," naturally, is Elsner's tribute to one of his major influences, Joe Satriani. Elsewhere, the acoustic alt-countryish "Kayleigh's Dream" reveals another side of Elsner's bad-boy axe-slinger image and also finds him playing keyboards. The final track, a mid-tempo rocker called "You Again," features David Thiele on vocals and ended up featured on the television show "Cold Case" -- demonstrating Elsner's depth as a songwriter.
Elsner seems comfortable making music that requires some degree of virtuosity, but it's clear he strived to record an album that's fun for both musicians and non-musicians to spin.
Track Listing:
1) Crack Puppies
2) Tsunami
3) King It Down
4) Chameleon
5) Stained
6) Voodoo
7) Kayleigh's Dream
8) Satch
9) Needle in the Groove
10) You Again
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