METRONOME MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 2010
Hearings: Top 5 for February 2010
MASCARA
FOUNTAIN OF TEARS 12-SONG CD
• DRAGONFLIES
• LESTER
• B261
• LISTERINE
• CARRY ME
• DEEP IN PALM BEACH
• AINADAMAR
• RETARDED
• HIGH SCHOOL
• BARS IN CAMBRIDGE
• TEXT2VOICE
• TULSAGIRL
Chris Mascara is nothing if not completely original and unpredictable. Growing up as a "child prodigy" on organ, in Florida, Mascara found his way to New England to study religion at Tufts University. Since then, his appearances in the Boston theater productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Aqualung, along with fronting his own band and more recently being hired by Harmonix [creators of Guitar Hero] to shoot motion capture of his image for animation of the frontman characters in their popular "Rock Band" game, have established him as a creative force in the Boston music community .
With new band members, Bo Barringer on bass & vocals and Matt Graber on drums, Chris Mascara unleashes his latest 12-song creation, Fountain of Tears. As you can well imagine, Mascara's songs are elaborate musical productions in a bold, operatic sense. Although there are only 3 musicians carrying out the proceedings (aside from the mandolin playing by Hendrick Gideonse on "Dragonflies") Mascara creates an orchestral vibe to the music that's stark, ethereal and electrifying. His voice is haunting yet revealing as he leads his trio in to uncharted rock & roll territories. Listen to Fountain of Tears with an open mind and enjoy an unusually, inventive album you won't soon forget. [D.S]