Greg Sczebel - Love & the Lack Thereof

Producer:  Greg Sczebel & Jerry Sczebel
Record Label: Soultone Records
Website:  http://www.gregsczebel.com

Every once in a while you encounter an artist that you know is just oozing musical personality and talent.  I remember that was exactly how I felt when I reviewed Greg Sczebel’s first CD five years ago - Here to Stay.  Sczebel was just 19 years old when he recorded that album - which was chock full of commercial sounding nuggets of musical gold.  I wondered why a major label hadn’t picked up Sczebel here in the United States (Greg is Canadian).  After listening to his sophomore outing - Love & the Lack Thereof - my brain is continually perplexed to see that Sczebel continues to have no US backing or distribution.  America - it’s time to wake up and take notice of one of Gospel music’s most talented promising new acts.  Greg takes things up a notch from his last release.  Things sound even more commercial and elevated from his last release.  Much like similar musical prodigy Bryce Avery (The Rocket Summer) - Greg plays a majority of the instruments on the disc and recorded most of the vocals.  The album kicks off with the fun romp of “One By One” - a real pop gem that could play well at Top 40 stations across the nation.  “Causin’ a Commotion” is a grandiose pop smorgasbord - similar to what artists like Justin Timberlake are producing these days with a real New Orleans jazz bent.  “Stop (You’ve Only Got One Heart)” has a 70’s funk flair that has the listener tapping their toes to the beat.  “Ain’t Got Love”‘s fantastic piano accompaniment finds the popster taking on a bit more of a bluesy pop feel.  “How Am I Supposed to Breathe?” is an old school R&B number that recalls the likes of Jill Scott or Alicia Keys.  It’s not all pomp and flare on Love & the Lack Thereof - as Sczebel’s ballads are really where the crooner shines.  The folk-tinged “This Is Worth Fighting For” finds the singer in new skin that works exceptionally well.  “Homeland” is another album highlight - and a song that he won the John Lennon Songwriting Competition for in 2007.  “Cancelling the Noise” takes the listening on a musical journey and finds Greg treading Queen territory.  Lyrically, Love & the Lack Thereof is exactly about what the title suggests - love and how it affects the relationships with those around us and our Creator.  Overall, as impossible as it might have seemed - Greg Sczebel’s Love & the Lack Thereof has surpassed his debut by leaps and bounds.  It still perplexes this reviewer how Greg has remained the great secret that Canada seems to keep to itself.  Love & the Lack Thereof is one of the strongest pop releases of the year - hands down.

Track listing:

1.  One By One
2.  Stop (You’ve Only Got One Heart)
3.  Causin’ a Commotion
4.  How Am I Supposed to Breathe?
5.  Ain’t Got Love
6.  I Will Come
7.  I’ve Got That Feelin’
8.  Peace
9.  Every Word You Say
10.  The Flow
11.  This Is Worth Fighting For
12.  Homeland
13.  Cancelling the Noise

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