It takes a lot to stand out as a guitarist these days, just throw on YouTube and watch some 12-year-old kid killing it. Kind of makes you want to throw your guitar out the window, doesn’t it? Well, thankfully Shawn Christie didn’t make that decision. This had landed on my desk for review but somehow skipped over my radar, but I am glad I picked it up. Bullseye delivers ten guitar instrumentals that cover a range of styles. The opening “Forever Summer” has a memorable melody, as do many of Christie’s songs, and a tone that may harken back to the late 80’s and 90’s when a lot of new guitar heroes began to emerge. He definitely has a metal edge to his playing and a good sense for song titles like “Ladies and Djents” which goes from tasty licks to speedy runs at the drop of a hat. Just when you think Christie has settled in, he changes gears and throws out some mean country licks during “Blueberry Jam”. Not only does he nail the style, but gets that authentic twangy tone, well done! He displays a mellow acoustic side on “Only When The Sun Shines”, but as you step into the track it really builds and is another showcase for his fine lead work. The clean tone and breezy feel of “Isobar” offers another glimpse into Shawn’s playing, a jazzy feel and the keyboard work of Anil Veeraraj are the perfect compliment. The interesting contrast of clean tone and heavy distortion is used in the early section of “Locution”, but his metallic spirit takes over to rock the rest of the track. “Intransigent” and “Still Chasing” might be my favorite tracks, the band lays back and Shawn steps up with some beautiful lines, and a few bursts to add some punch, a really solid guitar piece.
Christie’s strengths are his melodic approach, but underneath there is a shredder ready to take flight. You get plenty of opportunity to hear him rip, but I think what would appeal to most listeners are the more lyrical aspects of his playing.
Track List:
1. Forever Summer
2. Ladies and Djents
3. Blueberry Jam
4. Only When The Sun Shines
5. From The Six
6. Isobar
7. Locution
8. Distant Thought
9. Intransigent
10. Still Chasing
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