Brian Linne-Man on the Moon Review

The last album from Brian Linne was the excellent Uniqueness In Me in 2004. Six years later we have another exceptional recording titled Man on The Moon. The CD comes housed in a DVD style case with a large booklet including all the lyrics and artwork relating to each track.

The main theme of the new release is love, winning it, losing it, not having it at all, whatever form or perception one may have about love can be found here on Man on The Moon. I think Brian is saying quite frankly at this point in his life that he feels like a man on the moon, alone with his guitar and voice to express his innermost feelings.

Linne has a great talent in that he transforms his emotional pain into the most prolific and beautiful music. His music is comparable to what Springsteen was putting out when he was in top form during the Born To Run days. There are some different twists and turns this time around. On "Loneliness Is A Disease", Linne delivers a duet with the powerful vocals of Val Berry. This is the first male/female vocal workout that I have ever heard since I have been covering this artist. I enjoyed the change and variety and in addition to that the call and answer style was perfect for the storyline. You get both viewpoints and more to think about.

Linne plays some excellent acoustic guitar as usual while Robert Kerrigan injects some exciting and pinpoint licks on the electric six-string. Then there is the various forms of sax all handled by Dave Kujat, yet another superb addition to the tracks. The extra elements helped to encourage my thoughts of Bruce and his E Street Band. The approach is very similar and I must say everything is right there for optimal performances, production and writing. Linne wrote all thirteen songs and produced the album.

You may think the topic of "love" is a little overdone but this is what the artist is currently navigating his way through right now. If I did not know what he was going through I may say it is a bit much but I think the topic is very appropriate. The mounting emotions of losing your lifetime partner in one way another can induce extreme pain and sadness and what the artist is conveying is his innermost feelings through some great musical productions. This is not always the easiest thing to accomplish and in this case it took several years because he is an indie artist that works every day just like the rest of us and puts many nights of blood, sweat and tears into his craft. Sacrifice equals loss and gains and the most difficult challenge can be finding a balance that keeps everyone involved happy. In this instance everyone wins.

In the tradition of all great albums it opens with a bang and ends with one. "Around The World/ Friendship Purest Form of Love" sets the tone for the entire album and "Loves Greater Than Pain" features some of the best electric guitar work on the entire recording before closing the curtain on this journey into a man's soul.

Linne has come up with a classic rock recording that would be selling like hot cakes if he was backed by a major label or investor. Whatever happens we know one thing, Brian Linne knows how to make music, the kind that speaks to your heart and turns your ears into a portal of feelings and sound that cannot be denied.

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Around The World/Friendship Purest Form of Love, The Sculptor

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-MuzikReviews.com Founder

October 20, 2010

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Tracks:
01.Around The World/Friendship Purest Form of Love
02.Man On The Moon
03.Comfort of Love
04.The Sculptor
05.My Heart Silently Screams
06.Loneliness Is a Disease
07.Ghost In My Heart
08.Sunshine In My Heart
09.To Love Someone
10.Perfect Love
11.Spirit of Love
12.Tenderness ( Can You Feel It)
13.Loves Greater Than Pain