Search - Rick Fowler :: Welcome Companions

Something for almost everyone without losing focus

Jonathan Dorsey | Georgia, USA | 11/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, I'm biased. I am Jonathan Dorsey, one of the musicians on this album . However, I have to say I listen to this album -- all of it, not just my own contributions -- every day. The songs on Welcome Companions offer up what I hear as a diverse yet complimentary collection of updated classic rock. There are plenty of growling blues-based tunes with Les Paul guitars screaming through classic tube amps. There are jangly "nuveau-Byrds/REM/Petty" songs with crystylline Rickenbackers sparkling. There are harmony-rich acoustic numbers and ballads and one very inventive instrumental by former REM member Bill Berry who also played drums on some of the other tracks. Taken seperately, each song evokes its own imagery and projects its on identity. Together they create a unified work, stronger than the sum of its eclectic parts, much like a family made up of different personalities but a family nonetheless."

Welcome Companions

Ermadean Purdy | Florida | 06/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fate must have meant for me to see this because I was listening to "Destiny Blues" from Welcome Companions when I came across this site. Songs like "Profit off the Lord" show good humor and skilled musicianship. I don't normally like country sounding songs, but this one is fun. Other favorites are "Anything But This" with Jonathan Dorsey's Byrds-style guitar work and Eric Foreman vocals. I think Jack Logan's on here somewhere, another artist who is good because he cares more about the music than slick styling and corporate packaging. Rick Fowler and the other performers are into their craft and motivated by a pure love of music, and it shows. Good stuff."