Shane Scheib
Band/Artist: Shane Scheib – Fast Friends (EP)
Sounds Like: Brett Dennen, Damien Rice, John Mayer, Timmy Curran, Mason Jennings, Matt White, David Gray
Shane Scheib is an American/Nashville based singer-songwriter. His latest 6 Track EP “Fast Friends” is an original blender of sound mixing artists like , Timmy Curran, Mason Jennings, Matt White and David Gray, with just a dash of Gavin DeGraw. On this CD expect a heart plucking pop/rock staple that fuses folk and contemporary songwriting with soulful melodies and subject matter. All songs touch on all styles, fusing many amazing genres with each song. I can even hear elements of Americana, Blues and alt-rock. This latest 5 track offering is a pop-rock 5 track wp/album that gleefully dances up and down the spectrum of all of the aforementioned styles.
The CD Opens with the finger snapping “Run!” and pulls out all the stops until the final title track. I really like how the title track wraps up the album t the end via an outro– nice touch! His songs are often reflective and thought provoking, yet maintain a free spirited and light hearted tone. The songwriting often explores the complexity of love and compromise from a unique, but relatable perspective. The album as a whole pretty much hits on all cylinders and covers a lot of ground emotionally. There are signs that delivery the country-esque swagger like and there’s good refined Pop aftertaste to all pieces. The music is not all over the place and stays within the fairway of Pop all around. Vocal presence from Scheib presents the perfect musical backdrop for just sitting back and jamming out or playing in the car for a long drive. While each track is similar within their own right, all pieces on “Fast Friends” delivers unique, emotionally charged musical experiences that will satisfy any aficionado. Of particular note are the smooth, soothing vocals provided by Scheib and his band and behind the scenes production folks. As an entertainer Scheib delivers sold performances within his own right, all the while retaining a masculine/feminine fullness that compliments the skillful array of sounds brought forward by the rest of the band. Did I mention he also plays guitar?
Criticism: I don’t really get the title “Fast Friends” and how it relates.
To sum it up: I give “Fast Friends” by Shane Scheib an enthusiastic four out of five out of five stars and highly recommend this album to any fan of blues/pop/rock/Americana and jazzy-soul. Mostly it’s Pop. So grab yourself a copy and kick up your heels to some solid songwriting! It definitely sets the standard for this rather saturated genre, and should be a big hit.
Final Rating: 4/5 Stars
Purchase Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fast-friends-ep/id981380535
Dave Morell