QUINN SULLIVAN: Wide Awake (POP,Blues): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Four years ago now, Quinn Sullivan, a little guitar and blues prodigy, released "Midnight Highway" whose review concluded with a question of choice to which "Wide Awake", the new album brings an element of answer. In the twilight of his 18 years, either the guitarist returned to his first love blues or he indulged in a mainstream pop.

For Quinn Sullivan, the choice was quickly made since he claims an open mind to all styles in order not to lock himself in a genre and in this sense, "Wide Awake" represents him rather well. The album opens with 'All Around The World' which sounds rather authentic with a nice blues-rock rhythmic melody, female backing vocals and a nice solo at the end. With a rather classical construction, the track has all the assets to be a hit with a chorus that, if it is not sought after, remains well in mind. The blues is still very present in the classic 'How Many Tears' with a still youthful voice to bring an extra grain.

However, if these tracks are pleasant, there remains an impression that the blues and its guitar phrasing are here only an excuse for rather pop-rock tracks which have no other interest than to be as easy to assimilate as they are forgettable. Some will say that it is already a lot and that titles like 'In The World Without You', 'Real Thing', which can be listened to easily, are as difficult to write as a complex composition. However there remains a taste of unfinished business, the feeling of a will to please a maximum of people while forgetting what also makes the essence of the music.

The production remains a model of the genre and the execution is excellent. Quinn Sullivan's touch cannot be questioned which adds to the frustration of not knowing what a pure blues album would sound like. Instead, this new record is a sort of journey through different musical styles where only the guitar interventions enhance the interest. Between ballads that lack emotional density ('Jessica') or too formatted ('Keep Up') and dynamic tracks ('You're The One' without soul), "Wide Awake" is too well thought out and calculated to be totally memorable and even gives the feeling of being at the antipodes of the guitarist's favorite style. - Official website

QUINN SULLIVAN

WIDE AWAKE

MASCOT LABEL GROUP

POP