Way Out by The Unknown Gentlemen

The Unknown Gentlemen recorded and released this album simultaneously with "Ain't No Kin of Mine" (reviewed in Sept 2002 Aural Fix) where that collections was a primarily an acoustic set featuring epic narratives of loners and misfits, this disc is more electric and concerned with interior monologues, a psychic landscape. In "Hold it Inside" and "House on Fire" Paul Carden's gruff vocals give an emotional weather update, warning of the storms people hide from each other. "my mind is the enemy" indeed. Tom Hood provides most of the instrumental prowess, playing guitar, bass, drums, harmonica and penny whistle and adding sweet harmonies ("The Invisible Man") or vocal interplay ("Shining Superstar").

The characters (or is it one character with many moods?) range in behavior from menacing their unnamed listeners to offering limited solace ("Underneath the Moonlight") Carden and Hood who wrote all the songs here together, understand the minds of both "The Beautiful and The Damned", and although the title may promise a solution, for most of these people there is no way out.

One hopeful spot comes as "Its Understood" morphs from a light acoustic based shuffle into a cosmic anthem, "come on turn up the power, its alright as the music gets louder" in a dream of a perfect world, I see a stadium full of fans, lighters aloft, singing along. Until that dream comes true, you can get this CD and crank it up at home.

Absolutely real, featuring sublime guitar tones and vocals that you don't argue with. There are some tasty vintage influences here plus a little harmonica - a rare treat. Oh yeah these terms and conditions. This track surprisingly has a Red Hot Chili Peppers feel. This song has that great beat in the background. Great job. banow - Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada

keep playin you guys rock motown_smoker - Morristown, Tennessee

Moves for moderns Good, interesting tune. Nice Sixties feel with a modern twist, lyrics that mean something, well played guitar. haverstef - Carmel, California

Groovin' Everlast-esque. nice. Gspot - Jacksonville, Florida

this band is well conditioned! The cd has a wonderful feel to it- both the lyrics and the instrumentation. several catchy hooks are used by the percussion and the harmonica, which really add to the richness of the songs. the effect on the singer's voice is well used, as well- the way it fades in and out, adding another dimension to the sound of the vocals, straddling genres in the meantime neverending

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