Rick Altizer

Item: Go Nova
Author: Steven S. Baldwin

Go Nova

(2000)

Reviewed by Steven S. Baldwin

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music YouTube Music

Label Rhythm House RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2001

pop rock power pop

Rick Altizer is a lot like the Little Engine that Could: a happy, humble creature that by the sheer force of will and the application of inherent talent struggles and finally manages to climb over a challenging mountain. In Altizer's case, he writes, plays and produces entire albums of modern pop bliss in the often competitive landscape of Christian modern pop rock. The only downside to his magical, musical journey is that in the past there has been little fanfare when he's pulled into the station and unloaded his noteworthy trainload of tunes. Sometimes fairy tales do come true, however, and Altizer may yet prove himself a hero worthy of such celebration. Regardless, the new disc deserves a wider, more appreciative audience.

Go Nova marks Altizer's third official release. The preceding albums, 1998's Blue Plate Special and 1999's Neon Fixation, were, depending on with whom you talked, either modestly promising efforts or the second coming of a Terry Taylor prodigy. Some have even called Altizer an unsung musical genius and shared their hopes that he might single-handedly save the banality of the CCM scene someday. Now with three increasingly impressive albums under his belt, he's certainly off to a good start.

Regarding the Terry Taylor comparisons, they are not entirely unfounded. Both Taylor and Altizer have a similar range and twitter to their voices, and a penchant for creating left-of-center pop tunes full of snappy wit and charm. Although no blasphemously direct descendent of Terry Taylor's work, Altizer is a sort of disciple insomuch as they both share a fondness for reinventing The Beatles and Tom Petty. (Altizer's palette also skirts such influences as Cheap Trick, The Cars, and The Steve Miller Band, among others, in a way that updates them for 21st Century listeners.) One also easily imagines that Taylor's work was an influence on Altizer, a theory that is substantiated by Altizer's playful cover here of Taylor's "I Love You #19" from the Daniel Amos Horrendous Disc album. What Altizer lacks in Taylor's overall level of lyrical wit and clever satire, he makes up for with a musical accessibility that should earn him a solid fanbase in his own right. It appears to be Altizer's mission to not mime Taylor's trajectory so much as to create something in a kindred spirit with an eye on a broader audience--a goal that seems largely attainable.

The association between the granddaddy of Christian Alternative music, and the new bloke on the block, is also further solidified by their prior collaboration on the Surfonic Water Revival album. Some of those songs reappear here in altered states, including "Last Day of Summer," and a fetching rendition of "Gold Coast," which formerly featured Rebecca St. James as the vocalist. Given that too few people were acquainted with the Surfonic project, the reinterpretation of a few songs is an entirely appropriate measure for gaining a wider audience for them.

Highlights include the aforementioned songs, as well as the celebratory bombast of "Resurrection," the bittersweet bounce of "Love to You," the sly single "CM Superstar," and the moody modern hymn with a Middle-Eastern music break "Risen." Given that this project is largely a home-cooked compilation, the production value is superb.

Notwithstanding Adrian Belew's (King Crimson) contributions of a few well played guitar solos, much has been made of the fact that, like Prince, Altizer pretty much does everything on his albums himself. That would be accomplishment enough, yet it's buoyed by the result: a bright example of what modern pop rock from a Christian perspective can and should be. Fans of bands like All Star United, Skypark, Fono and Fleming & John should also "Go Nova." If sufficient word gets out about this little engine, don't be surprised to find it deservingly flirting with a lot of Top Ten lists at year's end.

4 tocks