"Wall Street Voodoo"
One has to ask themselves why there was a 7-year gap between Mr. Stolt’s solo releases. Let’s look at that 7-year period to see what he was doing during that time. From 1998 until 2005 he wrote and produced almost every song on 9 Flower Kings cds. He was also was part of 3 other bands - TransAtlantic, Kaipa, and The Tangent. Plus he was a guest musician on several FK band mates' CDs, several Flower Kings Fan Club cds and The Circus Brimstone project. He tours yearly with the Flower Kings and did two tours with TransAtlantic. This was a project that Roine had wanted to do for quite a while - an album paying homage to the blues/rock artists of his childhood, the music that made him want to be a musician himself. This album does just that and more. It could have been released any time between 1968-1973, but though nostalgic, it is fresh and new. It reminds one of the music of that period without sounding old or like something you’ve already heard before. He breaks out wah-wah pedals and other early distortion devices.
I could very easily go song by song and give a detailed description of each song, but I won’t. Throughout this two-disc set he takes a very hard look at the world around him and though he sounds a bit discouraged or even angry by what he sees, in the song “Spirit Of The Rebel” comes a plaintive cry that “LOVE IS THE ANSWER”. So as with most of his work, love and human kindness always wins out over hate, war, greed, and political ineptness. For me personally some of the standouts are, The Observer, Dirt, Spirit of the Rebel, Sex Kills(Roine's first and only cover song, paying tribute to one of his idols, Joni Mitchell), Outcast, The Unwanted, Everyone Wants To Rule The World, Everybody Is Trying To Sell You Something and People That Have The Power To Shape The Future. Those are just my most favorites. If you’re looking for a weak song, look elsewhere. Fans of the band TransAtlantic will be very pleased to hear Roine once again working with Neal Morse on lead and backing vocals as well as Hammond organ. Also joining him on drums are both FK drummers Marcus Liliequist and Hasse Brunisson. Some of the other musicians joining in are some past legends in the blues/rock genre the incomparable Slim Pothead, Gonzo Geffen and Victor Woof on Fender Bass. I would have to strongly recommend this 2 disc set to not only Flower Kings or Roine Stolt fans, but to any serious lover of blue/ rock. Listening to Wall Street Voodoo will be 2+ hours of the best music you’ve heard in quite a while.