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    The Phantom Tollbooth 2001/Blinker the Star
    Blinker the Star — August Everywhere cover

    Blinker the Star

    August Everywhere

    (1999)

    Reviewed by Andy Argyrakis

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    Label Dreamworks RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2001
    alternative rockdream popindie rockpower pop

    Blinker the Star's Dreamworks debut is a superb collection of mid-tempoed rock highlighted by various instruments from all over the world. The band's lead singer, Jordon Zadorozny, has risen from his humble beginnings growing up in Canada to becoming a prolific songwriter. His songs can transform from upbeat rock tracks to soothing ballads, to a melange of tribal sounds. Perhaps such varied sounds on the disc come from the singer's diverse upbringing and exposure to numerous instruments and cultures.

    The band sports a computerized distorted dance groove on "Your Big Night, Sandy" while calming things down for "On This Earth," an encouraging song to dedicate to a friend or loved one. "Pretty Pictures" is a work of art that conjures up a mood of floating in dreamland, while the message speaks of not taking for granted the people that are important in life.

    The album's closer, "The Star Behind the Star," is a particularly painful reflection about longing to leave the negative aspects of the earth and escape to a better place. The track's chilling acoustic guitar and shrilling keyboards, mixed with Zadorozny's wailing vocals leave the listener in a state of melodrama and reflection.

    All in all Blinker the Star has the potential to develop into an even more mature and radio friendly band that can pick up fans along the way with their vibrant array of sounds.

    4.5 tocks

    Other coverage for this album

    Opus 2005Reviewed by Jason MoreheadI wonder what must be going on inside the head of Jordon Zadorozny. I mean, how can he keep track of all of the diverse sounds that permeate all his songs? "September Already" lets loose with a couple of distorted power chords that quickly fade away into haunting Robin Guthrie-esque filigrees. On "Crazy Eyes," Zadorozny's vocals strain towards the stratosphere until they get all fuzzed out and…

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