Search - Steve Wacker :: Smoke Ring Haloes

Smoke Ring Haloes includes jazz-tinged ballads, an uptempo rocker or two, a country-ish tribute to musical cowboys (with a great-sounding pedal steel guitar) and touches of the blues. Although this diversity might make it hard to pigeonhole, this is an accomplished debut by Seattle-based singer/songwriter Steve Wacker. Wacker plays almost all the instruments, and he clearly enjoys having fun with the language (although some puns are more obvious than others). The songs are primarily based on acoustic guitar, and the arrangements are fleshed out with bass, percussion, harmonica and various electronic keyboards. Highlights include Cowboy Song (featuring Bob Knetzger's sweet pedal steel), a soulful cover of Bonnie Koloc's Children's Blues, and a duet with MJ Bishop (this girl can really wail!) on Love So Elusive, a funky-sounding shuffle. Scrambled is a fun commentary on that morning-after frame of mind, and Wacker somehow extends it into a comment about day-to-day existence. He also paints some vivid images in More Than Meets the Eye and Seattle, both of which achieve a jazz-like feeling through progressions based on major seventh chords. Nice production, well-written songs, good arrangements and solid vocals by a truly American songwriter. Buy this disc--you won't be disappointed.