Artist: Doug Stapp CD Title: "Static" Reviewed by: Nick Martinelli Reviewed: 7/11/02

     Track one "Ulgy" is the coolest / funniest intro I've ever heard.  Nothing like hearing a staticy Mexican radio station come through the sound waves.  Nice touch Doug.

     "Static" the albums title track is a melody driven guitar fan's worst nightmare!  Wait I know your asking, aren't nightmares bad?  Ya, but in this case Doug's infectious main melody line will be haunting your dreams for endless nights.  That's what makes it so good!  Doug's melody composition is amazing.  Personally as a guitar player myself I can appreciate the true magnitude of an amazing hook line.  This song is the apidaimy of good hooks!  I was humming this one in the shower for days, and I mean days!  As far as killer licks go, I'm not naming every one, there's just too many!  Put this bad boy on loop a few times, that's all I have to say.

    Song two "Broke" is another melody saturated number.  I love his use of bends in the main melody, it gave touch of soul.  Then at 00:30 he busts out a jam riff from Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever."  I was shocked and appalled!!!  JUST KIDDING.  It fit the song so well its not even funny.  Doug tears it up with some great shredding lines at 01:07 starting with some hot bends leading into some old school shredding bits.  Overall this track has a huge feel and vibe.  Doug also has a smokin' guitar tone.  His rhythm tone is super tight and ballsy.  His lead tone is ear piercing with sonic overtones.  I love his use of WAH WAH for texture over most of his bending lines.  Doug has a true knack for detail and even more so with sound and tone.

     "Everything is Great Now That I Lost All Hope" is the radio friendly tune from the CD.  It has a super glossy melody line, and  upbeat vibe to it.  This song has its own solar system, its truly out of this world.  The layering and recording in this one is to die for as well.  I also liked Doug's use of guitar effects, they added more depth and life to the track.  He backed a little of the shred dials in this one and went for a more atmospheric and melody approach.  Don't worry his main lead will turn your brain into butter.  I really liked how this song turned out.

    Ok you pop fans, Doug really crossed the line and went beyond our norms and expectations.  Doug you should be ashamed of yourself.  Naughty shredder you...  After hearing "You Drive Me Crazy" this I was forced to burn the very CD your printed it on.  Harsh?  Think not.  I kept getting visions of Doug in a high school hallway wearing a catholic girl school out fit.  Yup, plaid shirt, knee highs and pig tails.  (laughs) Just kidding!  This song was one of the BEST and most memorable cover songs I have ever heard, PERIOD!  The above was a play with your mind. (laughs)  I love this song and its always in my CD player, and no I didn't get visions of a Doug Spears in my head, its called creative writing folks.  That's right Stapp did his own version of Brittney Spear's smash candy store pop song "You Drive Me Crazy."  This song is so fun to listen to, try cranking it up extra load while driving around, I do!  The only thing Doug does different is that the song is heavy guitar driven.  After hearing his super heavy jam riff you'll know what I mean.  I also thoroughly enjoyed his vocal performance thanks to the Digitech Talker.  Its a nice little effects box that will make your voice leap up and sound like an alien.  The main lead section he added was a arpeggio shred fest I highly recommend rewinding that part a few times, its hot!  So Doug what's next Christina Agulara or N'sinc? 

     Track 6 "Access" is a short little guitar effects and tricks show off.  Sounds like Doug was performing some ritualistic abuse to his guitar.  Anyone got a drill?

    "Blue" song seven brings back Doug's more serious side with a super emotional performance.  Stapp's guitar playing is amazingly melodic and pleasant throughout the song.  His lead tone is also one to die for, so smooth yet bright and punchy.  The keyboards were a great addition and also added to the whole feel of the song.  I think this song could easily be the power ballad of the album.  Check out his arpeggio line at 01:52, I totally passed out after those.  They were super clean, perfectly executed and even carried the songs melody line along.  02:55 also marked one of my favorite parts.  Mr. Stapp hits you with a slow moving trem bar smacking line (otherwise known as chirping).  Ala the old school Stryper days.  What a masterpiece this song is.

     Track eight "Breakout!!!", is a punk influenced number with some high octane shred antics blazed into it.  The main riff defiantly sounds like something from a Misfits album.  There are too many hot licks to mention so please check out this one a few times.  Stapp smokes you with ends speed runs, arpeggios, slides and even more crazy guitar sound effects and magic tricks.  This song is short, but it packs a lot of heat.

    "Get A Rope" opens with bluesy licks and Doug has a killer blues guitar tone to go with it.  Shortly after he ditches the vibe and beefs up the song with a hard and heavy riff.  Doug then brings on aerial assault of harmonics,  speed runs, trem bar antics and finger tapping.  I also enjoyed how he incorporated WAH WAH over his leads, it gave the leads more texture and flare.

     "Endo," songs ten brings in the darker side of Stapp.  He uses lots of deep, heavy minor riffs.  Check out the harmony section starting at 01:17, it reminds me of the Becker/ Friedman days.  He also touches on the eastern feel with has playing in certain parts as well.  Overall this song is really massive, Stapp will pound you to death without a doubt.

     Track eleven "Drop" brings back Doug's happy shredder tone.  He hits you with a brick in the head right from the start. Oh crap DUCK!  Here comes another one!  Phew, his killer licks saved me once again.  Doug just tears it up in this one, with shred runs tapping, then he brings in some bluesy ideas that added a little more spice to the track.  Keep your ears peeled for Stapp's use of the Digitech Whammy pedal, their not hard to miss and I'm sure you've never heard a note scream up two octaves in one breath.  Doug has a lot of energy as a player and it shows in this one.

     Looking back, "Static" was a phenomenal cd that every guitar fan must own.  If your fond of guitar players that know how to write killer melody lines and have exciting licks, then Stapp is the man for the job.  He blasts through every song with an arsenal of nukes and guided missiles or should I say licks and tricks?  Doug's guitar playing is nothing short of spectacular.  His melody lines are amazing, they have so much life and literally sound like a vocal lines.  You'll be humming his licks for days upon days.  With hot songs like "Static" and the infamous rendition of Brittany Spear's hit song "You Drive Me Crazy"  you'll soon fall in love with Stapp's infectious playing, I was sold on the first note!  Yes Doug you had me at hello.  So please drop by his site at www.dougstapp.com for more info and to pick up your copy of Static today.