Rod Lingo is a fortysomething Carlinville
native who’s been jamming in these parts for years, both as a
solo act and with too many bands to count. Now, after all these
years of making music, he’s out with his first CD, Lingo. It’s an
eclectic mix of work, showing the range of influences on
Lingo’s music.
“All rock music is a footnote to the
Beatles,” Lingo says, but crank up his CD and the first thing
you hear is the jumpy, slightly bluesy “Back to the
Home,” and the last thing you hear is a slower tempo version,
“Back to the Home (Again).” Between the two
“Homes” are more cool jams.
Take, for example, “Day by Day.”
The dark ballad opens with a piano riff but guides you through the
all-too-common everyday journey to keep on keepin’ on.
It’s probably the album’s most revealing and poignant
glimpse into this son of Illinois.
The smooth, mellow “Comin’
Back” provides a nice ramp-up to “The Story Before
You,” which had me wondering whether Stevie Ray Vaughn had
pulled an Elvis and sat in for Lingo. Rich guitar play and a
get-your-jam-on vibe will grab you and make you start jumping.
Sparkling guitar highlights
“Leah,” Lingo’s homage to love, which sets up the
folksy “All My Life.” But the pick of the bunch, the one that’ll grab
your attention, is “Habits,” an interesting journey through
Lingo’s past, which is obviously populated by a few fun-loving
party girls. Like a bad habit, “Habits” will overtake you
and force you to dance.
“All the Time” is a bittersweet
prod to risk-taking and how chasing our dreams can be hard on the
ones who love us. It haunts anyone who ever had a day in the sun
and relives it now through cocktail-party stories. With a guitar
solo that Wayne and Garth would envy, “Trumpet”
surprises as a prophecy of dark times ahead, including the day we
might see “the angels lay their trumpets down.”
Lingo, who celebrated the release of the
album at a Carlinville party last weekend, is responsible for most
of the vocals, as well as the bulk of the instruments, with a nod
to Keith Morris (drums/percussion) and Brandie McCormick
(background vocals on “Day by Day”).
“Lingo,” Rod Lingo’s debut
CD, is available at the Bookshelf in Carlinville or by calling
217-854-3975.
Becky Austwick is the administrative
assistant of Illinois Times. She’s filling in for “Now
Playing” columnist Tom Irwin, who is working on his new
speed-death-metal act.
This article appears in Jun 2-8, 2005.
