ELMO KARJALAINEN
"Unitelligent Designs" (KC
Sounds; 2012)
Reviewed by Snidermann
"Unintelligent Designs" is the name of the recording and Elmo Karjalainen is its brains. Elmo K. has the ability to keep my attention throughout an entire recording with no lyrics, strictly music, and that's not easily done!
Heavy guitar-based songs with no lyrics that are ever so infinitely entertaining you feel like you are following a movie around in your head. Rock, jazz, folk, country, bluegrass, techno, classic rock, heavy metal and a few genres I don’t really recognize, but I like it.
Being able to entertain the masses with instrumental music is a talent that has been around for centuries. People like Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Joe Satraini and Sam Kazerooni (just to name a few) have put their stamp on guitar-driven music with no vocals and now Elmo can add his name to the list of awesome guitarists that hold your attention without lyrics.
"Unintelligent Designs" is hard-driving rock'n'roll with enough talent and charisma to light a city. This is the fourth time I'm spinning this recording in its entirety and that alone is quite an achievement in itself.
Check out http://elmojk.com for some very cool info on this outstanding musician and don't miss his YouTube videos, either.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2016 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
