Bard Shasta Re-Masters Indie Release No More Smoking!

Guest Blogger — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:09:52 +0000

When you hear the name Shasta you immediately think of the famous mountain; however, in the world of music it has another meaning. Shasta is a Bard with a guitar, armed and ready to make you reflect and ponder your very existence on this planet while questioning your own belief system. The New England native made a life-changing sojourn to California years ago, which is when he began developing into the artist he is today.

The re-mastered and re-issued version of “No More Smoking!” will have folk rock fans wondering why Shasta has not opened for legendary acts like Dylan. He won Dylan imitator contests in the past, so it is no coincidence his sound is similar. The lyrics he presents in a song are just as thought provoking and prolific as some of the master’s work. Although Shasta does not take himself that seriously, he knows how to have fun in a song and get his audiences laughing. The tongue in cheek innuendo of “It Won't Reach! (My Hose Won't Reach!),” is proof positive of his penchant for comedy and tragedy going hand in hand within one recording. Shasta’s gift for the dramatic and politically driven messages is evident as well. Just as his major influences have done in the past, he has a mission and seeks to spread his messages through his music. Shasta also imparts plenty of soul seeking and lyrics about love, which can be serious and funny all at the same time. In a world full of lying politicians and negative media, Shasta is a breath of fresh air appreciated for candor and his heart-on-the-sleeve approach.

Tony Bates of 100.6 Highlands FM in Victoria Australia had this to say about the reissue of “No More Smoking!”- "How can one re-release an album that on first hearing needs no additional work? Well, Shasta has surpassed himself by revitalizing his previous album and, guess what? It works! The Bard has proved that one can improve on what others feel is a masterpiece and he has done so without either ruining the essential and initial essence of the album or over-vamping it. Not many could do that, but that just shows Shasta has an intuitive view of his work. This latest release should be bought as an add-on to its predecessor as the two are complimentary."

Visit Shasta's website & Myspace for updates on performance dates, downloads, pictures, and more.

Contact: Shasta
Company: Mountain Thunder Music
Address: Chester, CT
Tel: 203-947-1333
Email
Website
CD Baby Link
Myspace
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Shasta releases No More Smoking!

Guest Blogger — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:02:28 +0000

Shasta is poet, guitar player, songwriter, and comedian all wrapped into one remarkable package. No More Smoking! Consist of 14 tracks chock full of poetic justice, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, rollicking acoustic guitar parts, and at times some biting electric riffs provided by select guests, that make your ears perk up and take notice.

This artist will remind you of Dylan. The influence is obviously there, and he openly and proudly proclaims his allegiance to the former Robert Zimmerman. Personally, I never liked Dylan's vocals and actually this artist has a more palatable vocal style for these ears and he is on the lighter side of those bloody tracks, which is always a welcome addition to my stereo. The best example of levity and some fun sexual innuendo is “It Won't Reach! (My Hose Won't Reach!).” The track is an absolute riot and the music is just dandy as well, in fact, Shasta does a nice job consistently offering up some decent guitar licks on the acoustic. The man seems to have an innate ability to put the lyrics right on top of the notes so it is smooth sailin’ all the way through.

If you are looking for polished and pretty, you will not find it here on this CD. Its WYSIWYG from start to finish and that is exactly why I enjoyed this music and the way Shasta goes about presenting his act. Now when I spin this CD again I know exactly what I am going to get, there are no false pretenses or surprises, you get “Modern Fixations” sandwiched in between a “Cold New England Rain” (lord knows I can feel it as I write), which have no parallels whatsoever. This guy has something different to dish out in every song and each one has nothing to do with the last one you heard. When the party is over, this is a notable strength and what makes this album what it is in the first place…different, original, and all Shasta, even if he does sound like Dylan.

Artist: Shasta
Title: No More Smoking!
Genre: Folk
Label: Mountain Thunder Music
Website
CD Baby Link

Shasta: lead vocals, acoustic guitars, harmonica, effects
Ed Goldfarb: keyboards
Bill Hare: bass, electric & acoustic guitars
Rod Farias, Jon & Pat Driscoll, Jeff Tracy & Brian Masaki: electric guitars
Jeff Lewis: trumpet & harmonica
Randy Musumeci, Steve Rosebery, Frank Stewart, Charlie Sporck & Joe Rizzi: drums Tracy Harris, Susie Slade, Monique DeMoulin & Lotte West: background vocals

Tracks:
01. No More Smoking! (live! Clean Edit) (3:41)
02. Outside My Window (3:51)
03. It Won't Reach! (My Hose Won't Reach!) (3:14)
04. Cold New England Rain (6:34)
05. Modern Fixations (3:53)
06. No! No Doctor! (3:52)
07. America's Home Town (bonus Full Length Edition) (4:38)
08. Condo-Commandos (3:26)
09. Stand Back! /Drop Down! (6:19)
10. Silicon Heartland (3:48)
11. Freudian Flowers (3:12)
12. America's Child (4:02)
13. Chasin' My Ghost (6:59)
14. No More Smoking! (live! Explicit Lyric) (3:42)

Band Weblogs » Shasta

Bard Shasta Re-Masters Indie Release No More Smoking!

Shasta releases No More Smoking!