Fourth Estate Albums (3)
'Finesse & Fury'
Release Date 2/1/1999
Tracks 12
Label Hapi Skratch Records
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Originally intended for release in 1992, this remastered edition opens up with Bach's "Joy," a boisterous song that shows terrific manual dexterity by lead guitarist Dave Beegle. The track also resembles Pink Floyd's "One of These Days" in its tone and melody. "Grunt Rock" evokes images of a mid-'80s guitar riff by perhaps Jeff Beck or Jimmy Page during his tenure with the Firm. Drummer Jim Iltis plays a prominent role in this song also. "Mason Street Shuffle" is an excellent track that doesn't have a rock element to it so much as a country boogie element to it. The track could also complement "Orange Blossom Special" for its rhythm and arrangement. An asset is the band's ability to adapt to many styles and genres of playing, whether it's a jazz texture in "Juggernaut," a Celtic tinge in "Highlander," or a classic rock mold in the brief but pretty instrumental "Cornerstone." A quality song is definitely "Reflections," a mid-tempo rock song that is very winding and challenging, particularly its middle portion. No songs feature a stellar virtuoso performance from Beegle, but each reflects an obvious joy and pleasure that sounds like it's recorded live. Unfortunately, the exception has to be "Burning Bridges." Here, the song doesn't get off the sonic ground, seeming like an aimless filler tune. Fourth Estate isn't afraid to turn it up a notch, though, as "Sorefinger Road" starts off with a punk rock tempo before nestling into a comfortable pace. On the whole, the album title is appropriate. ~ Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide
'Dustbuster Demos'
Release Date 11/15/1998
Tracks 19
Label Hapi Skratch
See Album Tracklist and Review
'See What I See'
Release Date 11/15/1998
Tracks 12
Label Hapi Skratch
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Resembling a cross between late-'80s hair bands and Jimmy Page's Outrider album, this trio creates a grandiose rock epic on See What I See. Lead guitarist Dave Beegle directs the songs through, but the rhythm section is just as vital. "Poet's Lament" has a Middle Eastern and Indian component to it, but also a Southern rock portion in its beginning. The orchestral chants sound more like filler on the song and add little. Led Zeppelin is another noteworthy comparison, as the winding sonic landscapes show. Fearless of following an idea to its conclusion, the band nicely wraps the track up. The title track is a play-by-numbers arrangement that seems ideal as a theme for Saturday afternoon sports programming. The conclusion is perhaps its only saving grace, as all three musicians build to a pulsating crescendo. Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop seems another staple Beegle was nurtured on, as "The Hammer Song" has a funky and almost space rock feeling to it, changing gears throughout. Bassist Fred Babich appears to have a prominent role here. Often the band relies on this groove to transmit their energy across, not the meticulous dexterity Joe Satriani or Steve Vai are more than capable of. Taking the mood down a notch or two on the melodic and breezy "Blue Flame," Fourth Estate couldn't pull this off more than once on an album, but it's good nonetheless. "Dadgad" is a stellar track, moving between a funk groove and progressive rock. Regaining its energy midway through only propels it further along an adventurous route. "Taste of Heaven" evokes images of David Gilmour's first album in its tempo and simplicity. The album's coda is an eight-minute track that is performed in three parts. "Kara Kum" begins with a brief Eastern-influenced guitar riff in part one, "Mirage." The second portion, "Ten Days Lost in the Sun," sounds like a snake charmer at times, but it's Beegle's guitar doing most of the work. "Shadow of the Dune" has a distinct flair to it à la No Quarter, the album by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. ~ Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide
