Review of
"Soundtrack to a Silent Movie," The Wag’s new CD.
David Hirsh for Bluemood © June 2007

The Wag’s new CD "Soundtrack to a Silent Movie" bends genres to their will and displays how the music of the 60's has grown along with us. This CD should be listened to, not just heard. When you listen to the CD with your eyes closed, you may think you are listening to the Continental Drifters (or Delaney & Bonnie or Fairport Convention, before them) not so much because they sound like them, but because they cover the same territory. The Wag is made up of versatile musicians and singers who clearly enjoy combining genres within one song and across songs. Part of the fun of listening to a band like this is mapping the pieces along with them; it is not easy to sound like a mix of Metallica and Richard Thompson, but the Wag pulls it off on “Fear.” Like the other bands of this sort, the Wag’s alternating lead vocals and harmonies add to the variety of sounds. The CD opens with a funky blues Match Box 20 reggae pastiche setting the tone for what is to come. Be warned if you demand genre purity in your music you will be disappointed; nothing on this CD sounds the same as anything else on the CD. They are a local New Jersey band. If you would like to learn more about the Wag or to buy their new CD, you can visit CD Baby, http://cdbaby.com/cd/thewag3 or through their own website:
http://www.thewagband.com, or www.myspace.com/thewagband.

In these days of easy access, it is easy to add this collection of songs to your collection.