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"Songs From a One Bedroom Apartment"

Review By: Steven B. Guydos

Just when you think you've got this guy figured out, he comes up with
a refreshing release of new and surprising music.

Known initially as a Stevie Ray Vaughan/Jimi Hendrix cover player and going by the nickname "Hurricane", Jay LaBoy's path has led him from the leader of the tribute band "Hurricane" Jay LaBoy & In Step to
lead guitarist for the blues influenced band The Buicks to this self-reflective unplugged solo project.

Gone are the fuzz tones and wah-wah pedals from his days with In Step. This is truly a throwback to the MTV Unplugged days when the classic music channel that lost its way and became a "reality tv" channel.

But don't think for one instance that Mr. LaBoy has lost his way. On the contrary, Jay plans each step in his career with the listener and fan base at the forefront. Jay is in the driver's seat on this CD, taking the listener on a self-retrospective journey which, for those who have followed this artist since his inception back in 1998, is biographical and heartfelt.

Those hoping to hear the Texas blues influenced sounds of "Hurricane" Jay LaBoy & In Step will be disappointed. To expect Jay to constantly present the same sound to the listener is not fair to the listener (as there
is so much more that this versatile artist can present) nor to Mr. LaBoy himself, as he must continually grow and venture down new areas to
keep him fresh and excited about the career he has chosen for himself.

A fan of Jay LaBoy (guitarist extraordinare) will appreciate this offering whereas the fan of Jay LaBoy, Stevie Ray and Jimi Hendrix tribute artist, will wonder where he is trying to take the listener.

However, from the opening track, it is quite clear where he wants to take us. We are invited on a journey of imagination and sound into the private life of a struggling musician, paying his dues. One who has reached for the dream of top billing, biding his time until the right ears hear what he has to offer in an industry that is truly on a downward spiral with canned music bytes, voice effects, overdubs and be-bop dance hits that would make the Lennon & McCartneys, Simon & Garfunkel's and Duane Allman's wonder what has become of their music industry today.

Jay LaBoy steps up to the plate with this offering and says, "Here is what I have, here is what I can do by myself and here is what needs to be done to save the future generations from a world of boy bands and Mariah Carey clones." Sort of a Bob Dylan, "The Times They Are A Changin'" era message for the 2000 era listener.

To say that Jay has hit a home run would be a complete understatement.

With this, the sixth release in the Jay LaBoy library, Jay has chosen to go it alone as a self reflective, back to basics, re-energized artist. If the latest concert performance is any indication of the future of this talented musician, break out those old "There's A "Hurricane" Comin'" T-shirts from years back.
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Steve Guydos is the former manager of "Hurricane" Jay LaBoy & In Step / currently employed by Rolling Stone Magazine as a CD reviewer based out of Los Angeles, California
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