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In fact the fourth song on the album, titled “For Jeff”, is an awesome instrumental fusion guitar tribute to the late guitar icon. MOTU’s performance channels Jeff Beck to the point of actually sounding like him. Ed Modzel joins in on drums sounding like Charlie Watts during his jazz era. For the bulk of the album, Dee Michelson sings harmonies with Dr Rich and solos on several songs showing her talented vocal expertise. These 11 new MOTU original songs demonstrate Dr Rich’s sustained energy in writing along with his masterful skills in a variety of different guitar playing methods. The album begins with “Just Shut Up, Stop Talking To Me”, which is a fun Rolling Stones style tune with great slide guitar riffs and a strong bass punch. Immediately following is “Something Has Changed”, which is a dark grunge jam-rock song. Dee delivers sweet lead vocals to tame the harsh Hendrix style guitar leads performed by Dr Rich. A great rock tune.
Song six, “You Always Got Something To Say”, is a rock trio of bass, guitar, and drums with some excellent guitar licks. MOTU delivers lyrical sarcasm about those opinionated people who we all have in our circle of friends. The next song, “I Look To The East”, is a haunting Americana song of reflection sung beautifully by Dee. Pedal steel guitar, pure electric and acoustic guitars and keyboards provide a perfect soft rock background that can bring tears to one’s eyes. This soft mood is extended by the next solo instrumental acoustic guitar piece simply titled, “Horizon”, then followed by song number nine which is the title track of the album, “Awareness Or Illusion”. Stylistically like some of the later Led Zeppelin songs with ethereal keyboards and Jimmy Page style guitar, Dr Rich presents a dreamscape type rock tune with a classic slow blues progression. This one stays in your head. Song ten, “Easier To Be Blind”, returns the listener to masterful harmonica and slide guitar rock. This has always been the foundation of what MOTU does best and he is amazing again on this tune. Finally, song eleven, “A Company Man”, closes out the album with a Gov’t Mule style rock song again showing off Dr. Rich’s ability to perform on guitar with a variety of methods ranging from finger tapping to slide to everything in-between. This 24th MOTU album, Awareness Or Illusion, is a fun American Roots-Rock guitar driven album. It is well written, performed, and highly recommended to be played loud and often.
LYRICS 1. Just Shut Up Stop Talking To Me So fine, like moonshine Don’t need to hear, to hear you speak So fine, like moonshine So fine, like moonshine
2. Something has changed Something has changed It don’t feel right Caught me by surprise No time to be mad Something has changed
3. There’s only us I’m not tryin’ to start a fight There’s only us Alright to have a different view There’s only us I’m not asking you to subscribe There’s only us
4. For Jeff (Instrumental)
5. Too much bullshit to normalize How can we ever get along What will we tell our youth
6. You always got something to say Your life is so hard You never paid your dues You can’t name the presidents You got a strong point of view
7. I Look to the East I look to the East to see the sunrise I see my past and decisions I’ve made I see my friends and all those I held dear I’ve seen a world where no one could agree Looking East, Looking East
8. Horizon (Instrumental)
9. Awareness or Illusion Give us one more chance Can we play a part Do we really see Is this just our way
10. Easier to be Blind Maybe you feel guilty Not everyone is good You thought you knew someone You need answers Not everyone is good So hard to see The truth is so hard
11. A Company Man Get my hat hold my hand Don’t want to be in your clan Don’t agree with no con man Won’t play the part of your leading man
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Awareness Or Illusion is the 24th official album from Long Island’s MOTU. It’s a true blues / rock / pop masterpiece. A throwback to MOTU’s very early albums which had an unmistakable raw American-Roots Rock sound dominated by guitar. Dr Richard Michelson (MOTU®) once again plays a plethora of instruments on this album; keyboards, mandolin, harmonica, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, pedal steel guitar, and dobro. However, this is definitely a guitarist’s album. Dr Rich shreds with style at times sounding like Warren Haynes, Keith Richards, Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix, and even Jeff Beck.