Philip Sayce – “Influence” [Album Review]

If you are at all a fan of the blues or raw, gritty, funky rock ‘n’ roll than Influence, the new release from guitarist extraordinaire Philip Sayce, is for you! This thirteen track disc packs a punch with a mix of covers – see “Green Power” (Little Richard), “Better Days” (Graham Nash), “Peace in the Valley” (Thomas A Dorsey) – and numerous Sayce originals, each loaded with tons of hooks and influences that run the gamut from blues to hard rock to funk.

To date, Sayce is best known for his guitar work, so it is no surprise that his axe takes center stage on these songs. With a raw, fuzzy tone that sounds as if it was run through a Fuzz Box and a wall of Marshall Stacks, the whole record has a late ’60s/early ’70s vibe that, at times, reminded me of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, or Stevie Ray Vaughn. Sayce is an absolute bad-ass on the guitar and he lays down some of the most sizzling, tasteful, emotionally-laden guitar licks I have ever heard. The blues is a genre based solely on emotion and Sayce successfully uses his fretboard to convey that in stellar fashion.

This is not an instrumental record though, and I would be remiss if I didn’t make mention of Sayce’s vocals which are powerful, passionate, and tie everything together. Influence is a record dripping with passion and is sure to please both guitar aficionados and those who dig either blues and/or downright killer rock.

Track Listing:

01. Tom Devil
02. Out Of My Mind
03. Sailin’ Shoes
04. I’m Going Home
05. Fade Into You
06. Blues Ain’t Nothin’ But A Good Woman On Your Mind
07. Green Power
08. Better Days
09. Easy On The Eyes
10. Evil Woman
11. Triumph
12. Light Em Up
13. Peace In The Valley

Run Time: 53:48
Release Date: April 7, 2015

Check out the song “I’d Love To Change The World” here.