Loss for Words, Full of Taste
by Lance Zechinato
JRS (Jeffrey Ryan Smoots) is the most talented guitarist / multi-instrumentalist / producer you’ve probably never heard. He hails from the Seattle area and has been known in the “Indie” guitarist community for years. He was a celebrity in the heyday of MP3.com where he topped the instrumental rock charts several times. His influences are many, ranging from Rush to Malmsteen. He not only composed and produced this entire disc, but performed every sound.
Loss for Words is a solid offering; it is well-produced with a nice organic feel, and loaded with tasteful hooks. Though some may know Smoots for his shredding prowess, Loss for Words is not a shredfest disguised as an album; it is anchored by compelling rhythms and, yes, embellished with shred, but the real stars of the show here are the songs themselves.
The opener “Unearthly Ambition” is fast-paced and thematic, sprinkled with meter changes reminiscent of modern Prog, while the melodic guitar lines are clearly the “voice” (think Dream Theater meets Satriani). The next song “Dog Robot” knocked me out the first time I heard it; the deep groove and gutsy vibe make it one of the gems on this disc. The next one’s title “King Lerxst” pays homage to Rush’s Alex Lifeson and, not surprisingly, the choruses have a playful, Rush-like feel. “Mr. Negativity” is an intense, crunchy song that displays Smoots’ knack for combining tasteful melodies with rhythmic angularity. “Skyward” is another standout--adventurous and melodic with several interesting twists. The vibe gets more serious and textured on “The Anachronist”, followed by the aggressive and complex “Zeta Principle”. My favorite melody on the disc is during the choruses of “Stadium Dreams”.
Loss for Words is a collection of great tunes that will appeal to fans of instrumental guitar rock in the vein of Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Neal Schon and Yngwie Malmsteen, as well as fans of progressive bands like Dream Theater and Rush.
