Artist: Richard Kendrick CD Title: "Murder and the F-Word" Reviewed by: Nick Martinelli Reviewed: 10/18/2002

    I'm also amazed that he played everything on the CD; guitars, bass, drums, vocals, recording, and mixing,  The sound quality kicks for an independent release.  I tested it out in my car with my CD player cranked up real high, it jams!  Kendrick recorded everything in his home studio, and man did he have lots of gear to do it with.  So lets get on with the review.

     Track one, "I Know Why" opens with a pretty little keyboard intro that then turns in to a upbeat boppin' riff that is overly infectious.  The rest of the song will keep you jamming for sure.  The choruses are very huge, so get ready to sing along with Richard on 'em.  His main lead lead smokes, using some pentatonic phrases and some cool trem use.  I also like the blend of effects that were added into the guitar tone, a nice personal touch.  Also check out his lead fills between choruses and verses.

     "One Life Stand" song two, is a slower heavier number, with plenty of great guitar work and vocals.  The choruses are very catchy in this one as well.  02:01 marks the main lead section.  It opens with a cool riff that's drowned with a flanger effect.  For rest, he tosses some great harmony leads you'll dig for sure.  This is a real upbeat one that gets happier sounding towards the end.  It's one you'll be repeating a lot.

     Song three "Don't Fly Away" opens with melodic keyboards accompanied by some soulful vocals.  00:56 marks one of the many mini harmony guitar leads, nice and slow bends that will cut right through you.  This song is a real mellow number, so get your woman and slow dance to this one.  I think I heard this one at my high school prom.  I also love the mix in this song, it's very layered and atmospheric sounding, in another words it very full sounding.  The main lead is another great slow harmony lead, the tone on them is to die for.  This song should appear on the next "POWER BALLADS" CD for sure.  The girls will love this one, it's so melodic and it'll keep you singing harmony vocals along with Richard.

     "Start Again" track four, is my favorite track of the cd, because it sticks out from the rest and has a killer vibe.  Secondly the lyrics crack me up like nobodies fool.  It's a slow paced one, that has almost a lounge, and Latin feel to it.  I CAN'T EXPLAIN, I'LL BE SURE TO ASK RICHARD ABOUT IT IN THE UPCOMING INTERVIEW!  The song also packs in some great heavy metal riffing in the chorus parts.  It blows me away because, Kendrick hits ya with a groovy vibe, then brings in the metal influenced chorus section.  Kendrick has writing down to a science, these song flow with ease, no abrupt changes.  In the main lead Kendrick tears it up with speed runs, and arpeggios, need a say more?  Also check out all his fast palm muted runs, they are one of the highlights as well.

     "Sherri's Song" song five, opens with a massive rhythm and lead section, that will wake you the hell up.  It's very melodic and happy sounding.  This combo stuck me as being great instrumental song, until the vocals came in, then the song got even better.  Richard packed in great guitar riffs and vocals for sure.  He was going for over produced songs, and I think he went beyond that.  This song screams out in harmony and melody.  The main lead is huge, mixing it up a bit with speed, bends, and arpeggios.  Along with that, the mini lead breaks are a big addition to the song, and help each part flow into the next.  Also, check out Kendrick's killer harmony vocals.  How does he do all that singing at once?  (wink wink)

     Song six "Share This Tender Moment" opens with an eerie sounding keyboard line, sounds like something out of a B-movie or a mystery type computer game.  Hey was this song in the 7 Guest game?  After that Richard goes nuts with some heavy duty drop tuned riffin'.  I highly recommend  cranking this song loudly while driving!  Suggestion: Pull up to that yuppie in there Mercedes SUV and break there windows with this one! (Note from the webmaster, we are not responsible for an damage inflicted on any vehicle, we were just trying to bring a point across, thank you...).  I think this song should have been called "Share This Brutal Moment."

     "Don't Touch" track seven is another slower number with melodic keyboards and vocals.  I love Kendrick's lead throughout the song as well, they are real upbeat and exciting.  His choice of guitar tone was interesting as well for this one.  It's very mid range ish.  Reminds me of Stryper's guitar tone.  This is a radio friendly song too, so get ready to sing along.  Again get ready for a interesting main lead section.  Kendrick covers lots of ground using an odder sounding feel.  I really like the lyrics in this song, their really fun.  Also, check out the weird sounding lead section.

     Track eight "Questions and Prayers," bleeds in from from song seven.  I had to rewind it a few times to catch the break.  Kendrick does some really odd vibratos over laid with some insanely creepy guitar effects in this little number. 

     "Now I'm Alive" track nine, has a modern sound to it. The drums have a sorta hip hop feeling to them, so that was different sounding.  But don't worry it's like that Limp Biscuit crap!   I also like the keyboard accents that drop every so often.  Kendrick's guitar playing is real heavy in this one, using drop tuned guitars.  So you metal nuts will dig this one.

"Losing My Place" song ten, is a slower number that carries on the "Fame, Faith, Farrago" montage.  Cool melodic leads for sure.

     Track eleven "The Pieces," continues on where the last song left off.  Slow at first, then hittin' hard with some faster rhythm guitar playing and speedy leads.  I still can't get over Kendrick's song writing abilities, these songs merge into the next one with out you even knowing it.

     "How Many Times" twelve is another huge vocal song that will keep you singing along.  Great production on this one.  The ladies will like the mushy lyrics on this one.  Richard also kicks in some very melodic aucstic guitar in this one.  It was a real treat, the album has been pretty hard hitting so far, so this piece broke it up nicely.

     Track thirteen "Freedumb" is heavier number that has a cool slow chug riff that will scare the crap out of you, its a real evil rhythm.  I also liked the lyrics in this track, very thought provoking.  The main solo in this song contains a very really cool harmony part.  I also like his use of melody in it as well.

     "The Flood" track fourteen, is a short little number with some great multiple part vocal harmonies. Just goes to show that Kendrick's voice is really good and he displays a wide range with it.

     Song fifteen, "Laughin' Myself Goodbye" just rocks out with cool riffs, lyrics and a great groove.  Big choruses and big guitars for sure.  I can just picture this one being played live at a concert.  It's a great song, with great production.  This song would easily be a radio hit.  Time to sing along folks!

     Track sixteen "Reprisal" opens with some cool shredding and amusing laughing noises, then it kicks into an interesting keyboard theme.  A mix a classical and modern orchestral styles of music.

     Last but not least "The Attitude Song" song seventeen, starts out with some interesting shred runs; rewind them a few times, they caught my attention.  In fact, this track is a full blown instrumental guitar number.  Kendrick really gave us a nice montage of guitar playing in this one.  He can tear up the boards and be melodic at the same time. 

     Looking back "Murder and the F Word" was a very interesting and fun cd to review.  Richard Kendrick's vocals smoke just as much as his guitar playing does.  This cd is one for all kinds of hard rock fans.  Guitar players will love the killer Kendrick riffs and leads.  Fans of sing along music will defiantly get their monies worth, seeing that every vocal track has a huge chorus section.  The production and recording quality is awesome.  Sounds like Kendrick spent a lot of time getting tones, recording, and mixing this beast.  I highly recommend picking up this album if your looking for something new and fun to listen to.  I really enjoyed this one and it made it into my travel cd case, so I carry it with all my other favorite cds all the time!  Kudos to you Rich for a F'in good cd!