Near (by Mister Troll) by Phlogiston

pop ....??? .... sorta blues I'd say but I do dig the vibe.

laid back ... easy ... sexy ... tasteful and just kinda cool.

but make no mistake, the song rocks in it's own way. big drums lead the way with a simple line that just drives it along perfectly. nice kick sound and I am a sucker for a chorus ride cymbal ... and tho the snare might be a bit too hot here and there, I love the feel - especially with the rolls breaking it up - and nice crash action.

to go with that, the bass seems like it's tailor made for the partnership with the drums - even though it simply roots the guitar and chord progression ....

guitars are 'effin' cool, with just the right amount of skank, dirt and jangly treatments .... and a great little riff that the songwriter musta knowed was just too hot to handle with just one sound. the wah add on the one axe worked perfectly.

totally and completely love the the lead solo on the guitar ... restraint and plenty of attitude mark the line but it's also just odd and somewhat unexpected - making it supercool.

the vocals are the ultimate in laidback and easy for delivery by a lady singer who nails the few notes shegoes for. if I had a complaint on the vocals, it'd be that the melody doesn't venture too far from itself. but otherwise, the vocals are tight an on. not one of the current auto-tuned performances but one with ever so slight faults right there giving the song texture.

nice flow to the lyrics too ...and tho probably not a very original treatment, the class rises the song up beyond itself.

pretty good backing vocals as well - a bit of oh ah stuff and some do-wap stuff and some harmony ... nice vocal arrangement.

I like it ....