Anton James – Don’t Ask Why
Coming at us from Lummi Island via Detroit, quadruple threat Anton James (actor/entertainer/singer/talk show host) evoked many different emotions as I sunk my teeth into his Don’t Ask Why record.
As I began listening to the album I was already partial to James due to the mere fact he had played the delivery boy who was murdered in the recent mostly not memorable “Monstercam.com,” a full length B-movie that is possibly worth checking out. I learned this fact from the well done resume that was included with the musical submission.
But back to the record. James is definitely a passionate songster who has created a record chock full of genre bending, combining classic rock, buttrock, funk, soul and a dash of the kitchen sink on this 12-song collection. The opening track, “Here it Comes,” reminded me of a slightly off key Joey Ramone rocking out with the E Street Band. It’s hard to dislike the album even though some of its basic lyrical phrases and standard, predictable changes don’t knock the socks off by any stretch of the imagination.
My favorite song on the record was the fun “Chelsea Girl” with it’s kind of neat B-52′s like backups and 60′s flavor. The sax work on this track was also stellar. The title track, “Don’t Ask Why” (not to be confused with the great, great Replacements song of the same name) had a bit of a harder edge and a hooky hook which I dug.
In terms of chops and production I have to tip my cap to James. His sound is ultra polished, a lot of studio work is evident, seamless, very smooth. As a bonus, James also included a snappy version of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer that will surely be a part of my holiday playlist for years to come. Check out Anton James. He will certainly entertain you.
Self-Released
