THEIR COLORS FADE

Most music lovers know of Marco Minnemann as a very talented in demand drummer who has recorded with many artists. Yet most don't seem interested is his solo projects and that is criminal. "Their Colors Fade" is Marco's 19th solo release. That is a lot of music for any artist to release, yet Marco does this in addition to everything else, including world tours with his band The Aristocrats. And you might think that the material on any artists 19th album would not be as fresh as the first dozen, but you would be wrong. This album (17 tracks, 72 minutes) is one of my favorites he's ever done. It is amazing that he never gets stale or runs out of ideas. Marco plays drums, keys, guitar, bass, and sings on most songs. He wrote, recorded, produced, and mixed all the music himself. He also has a lot of guest female vocalists that keeps it interesting. The music is eclectic... from pop "I Love My Shark" to jazzy avant jams, with poetry recited, on "Glass Attack". The sax playing and arrangements on this song are inspiring and unlike anything Marco's done before. "Calculator" is a lovely dark ballad with only guitar, synths, and vocals. "Mirrors" is an upbeat playful instrumental that showcases Marco's guitar, bass, and keyboard skills. He keeps improving on all instruments and every song is unique. His mixing skills are also superb.

Overall, this is a brilliant album that unfortunately will not receive the exposure or praise it deserves. 4.5 stars.