“Boomerang” –A Shining Summer Star from the George Barrie Band

Reviewed by Doug Queen
In their second album, the George Barrie Band shows no signs of slowing down. Apart from their tasteful half-time groove sections, Boomerang is a stalwart second work for a Columbus-based band that is destined to continue growing. Whether you’re into John Mayer or 70s groove groups like The Police or Earth Wind and Fire, Boomerang brings with it the colorful vibes that you need to brighten your day.
The upbeat first track titled “Boomerang” is sure to get you and a partner dancing. Filled with horns, tasteful melodic/rhythmic guitar styles, a groovin’ bass line, and delicious harmonies, this is a song that is bound to get stuck in your head.
Up next is “Do You Want My Love” which took my mind straight to the beach to sip on a Corona (with lime, of course). This track reminded me of The Blues Brothers, but with a sunny twist!
“Falling Faster” slows the pace of the album ever-so-slightly, but speaks the truth about what it feels like to fall in love. Phrases like: “Falling is easier when you don’t believe” and “There’s no turnin’ back once you’ve caught the disease” reign true inside all of us. Once you fall, there’s no slowing down, which is perfectly reflected in the upbeat chorus of this song.
Inevitably, “Why Me” serves its purpose to slow the energy down and gives us a pleasant folky tune that sounds like it should belong on the soundtrack for La La Land. After faintly ending, we’re quickly launched into “Savor The Moment,” a longer track that features glowing choral harmonies. The song continually builds and later launches into a climax in the form of none other than an absolutely rad guitar solo. As the solo ends, “Savor The Moment” suddenly dips your feet down into a pool of tasty grooves that exude both trippy and chill vibes through a colorful array of sounds layered just above the drum groove.
“Melody” is another song that exudes musical truth, as “melody is always better with a little harmony.” As a wonderfully crafted metaphor for living life in harmony, the GBB delivers yet another tune with ear-pleasing melodies here.
In what has the makings of a fantastic live song, “Holding” holds with it an atmosphere that is bound to get a crowd clapping and singing along. With a grooving finish and background vocals the perfectly compliment the rhythm of the song, Barrie finishes off the tune with yet another tastefully melodic guitar solo.
“I don’t Know Why” brings the energy way down, utilizing the lack of electricity in the track to allow for glowing chorus harmonies that are brought out by a shining keyboard synthesizer in this bluesy track. This song serves to bring out the vintage, old school rock n’ roll vibes of the George Barrie Band.
If you’re into love songs, “Maybe” is the song for you. This tune seeps out plenty of reggae and funk elements in a tastefully catchy drumbeat that is accompanied by soul-filled melodies in both the verses and the choruses. The female vocal accompaniment is the icing on the cake throughout this tune. Maybe we can get just a little bit more?
In clever fashion, the final song on “Boomerang” is titled “…just a little bit more” and bleeds the fade at the end of “Maybe” into “…just a little bit more.” This tune takes the core rhythmic and melodic elements of “Maybe” and expands on them in an impressive 7-minute work of art. The song features nearly every instrument being played in the band, starting with an elongated keyboard solo that thrusts into a groovy, intentionally syncopated section between the guitar and bass. By the end of the track, your head will be bobbing to the upbeat atmosphere and gorgeous harmonies that fill up this instrumental jam track.
Boomerang is an exceptional piece of work that features exactly what a music listener wants to hear as spring turns to summer. While the album sits at a slower tempo for the most part, songs like “Boomerang,” “Do You Want My Love” and “Melody” will still lift you into the clouds. In landlocked central Ohio, the George Barrie Band will quickly take you to the beach with the shining melodies, wavy harmonies, and joyful lyricism instilled in Boomerang.