antiMusic.com: The Blue Poets

The Blue Poets - The Blue Poets

.
The Blue Poets is the group that gives guitar virtuoso Marcus Deml a forum to express his extensive musical talents. They've opened for the likes of Foreigner in the past, but the act's cover of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" on this self-titled effort underscores where his/their heart is at. However, it's "The Truth," which is a rolling, rollicking blues rocker that stands out most on this 11-song collection. With it, Deml, gets to resurrect a powerful Stevie Ray Vaughan-like vibe. With its soaring ascending and descending electric guitar licks, it's the kind of track that makes Deml sound closer to a 'blues poet' than merely a blue one.

While much of this music is loud and rocking (think 70s hard rock). Deml closes the album with "With Your Eyes," which is a quieter blues song. It's built upon gentle electric strums and runs. And one of the more intriguing songs on the project is called "For a God." It speaks to a religious extremist who goes to the ultimate extreme of killing for his/her god.

The best part about this album is that it spotlights a talented guitarist within the context of memorable songs. It's harder to appreciate a musician that's just showing off. Instead, this album reveals the significant difference a master player can make with a song.