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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Leroy brings "new rock" to the table..., June 12, 2001
With a style of music unlike any other genre currently available, Leroy steps upon the music scene and offers something to listeners that will either make or break his career in music; originality.Each album track employs an electric guitar, and the unmistakable growl-whine of singer/songwriter Leroy, who's last name never appears within the liner notes of his self-titled album, Leroy. Drawing influences from the blues, funk, pop, rap and rock, each track offers a new twist to delivering well written lyrics. "The Way We Carry On" begins with a distorted Hendrix-style guitar riff, and melts into a smooth rocker before later borrowing from hip-hop with a guest appearance by Damani Washington who adds a rap backing amongst a wailing blues guitar and various symphonic stringed instruments. As difficult as it may be to pigeonhole acts like Leroy into a set musical genre, the variations between songs such as "Over You" and "Ricochet" make it near impossible. With an 1980's era musical sound, "Over You" differs greatly from the crunchy rock feel of "Ricochet." While each song seems to have its own voice and styling, the reoccuring vocal whine of Leroy seems to bind each track together on the album. Each track is essentially different, and yet the same. Unlike any of the acts currently in the public eye, Leroy seems to make the transition from his inner person to his listeners by simply putting his music out in a risky take-it-or-leave-it attitude that tends to shape popular music. Although some tracks may be a bit difficult to really place in radio rotation, at least one or two of the 13 tracks should reach the public ear within the near future. Whether or not Leroy will be around in a year or two is unforeseen at this point, but having a diversely oriented musician writing his own music is always respected if not welcomed. Leroy assures us with his lyrics, "Don't cast me astray/Cause all I'm gonna do is ricochet." Maybe as a message to listeners, he is in fact asking for his chance to truly become a new driving voice in music, stepping out of the shadows of the fallen acts before him. The Bottom Line: Leroy simply refuses to be labeled into a musical grouping. While each track borrows upon the influences of various styles of music, they all seem to join together to create a new and unusual sound from a talented and almost mysterious musician.
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~ Various Artists
DVD ~ Zach Braff
~ Jeremy Kay
DVD ~ Zach Braff
~ Levon Helm
by LeRoy 
