After Cutting and Singing Every Track Himself, J.B. Frederick (Sandstone Records) Delivers a High Octane Winner with Know It Or Not

As the great feedback comes in for J.B. Frederick’s sophomore effort, Know It Or Not, it is clear that this West Palm Beach resident has hit both a songwriting and performance homerun. Destined to spend more time in your C.D. player than out of it, this release is laden with hooks galore, focused and powerful lyrics and multiple layered vocal arrangements. As a musical retail product, Know It Or Not is very top-heavy in quality.

West Palm Beach, FL (PRWEB) July 30, 2006 -- This recent review speaks for itself:

The biggest positive surprise of this issue certainly was J.B. Frederick’s album Know It Or Not. Besides the unusual artwork which sets this CD apart from the flood of CCM-releases already it is the musical direction taken and the sheer quality of Frederick’s songs that make Know It Or Not the highlight it is. Expect no carbon copy of the Pop-Rock stuff which rules current CCM-radio nowadays.

What you get here is pure authentic 80’s AOR loaded with prominent keys and layers of backing vocals. After the rocking but rather average opener / title track it is the pompous Hallowed By The Name which makes you check if this is still the same CD you’re listening to. With pumping keys fantastic vocal arrangements and a killer hookline this track reminds of bands like Cry Holy, Le Roux or STYX. As the following semi ballad Forevermore continues exactly in the same vein you start to hope that this will be the general direction taken by Frederick. And right so, after Ride On (In The Name Of), an epic melodic rocker with another instant chorus it is Heaven’s End which steals the show.

Another brilliant powerballad which could be called the christian counterpart to More Than Words Can Say by Alias. Frederick has a charismatic voice somewhere between Jess Harnell and Fergie Fredriksen and really shines on that last track. The next three tracks, Kyrie Eleison, Ballerina and The Storm all follow the Pomp-AOR path and only the last two tracks The Lord’s Prayer and the instrumental Firegazer seem somewhat out of place on an otherwise excellent AOR album. While there are certainly better produced CD’s out there (the production quality lacks a bit in the lower range) it is still very enjoyable for a self released indie CD. In fact I would compare the sound quality with Phil Vincent's earlier stuff. Like Vincent, J.B. Frederick is a multi instrumentalist who has played every single instrument on Know It Or Not except some lead guitar parts on certain songs.If your’re an AOR fanatic you should certainly check this CD out! Kritik: Ralf Fahrig

Diana Lynn
Sandstone Records

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