VAST
Music For People (Mushroom)
Reviewed by Jason Thornberry


Inhabiting a universe that Richard Marx (and his hair) probably wishes still existed, Jon Crosby plays arena-ready rock with titanic, pass-the-cocaine choruses, and lyrics that could have been lifted from a Survivor record that never got to see the light of day. Crosby definitely has The Eye Of The Tiger as he saunters thru the twelve tracks here, dragging along the shuffling ghost of leather-clad 80's rock -- think "The Heat Is On" by Glenn Frey updated and improved, but still having all of the "epic" moments that Frey, Eddie Money, Tom Waites, Billy Squier, Bryan Adams, The Boss, George Michael, Eddy Grant, and sooo many others milked to perfection in the era of the Cold War, hair gel, Miami Vice, and Max Headroom.

Yes, VAST actually comprises one man, and stands for Visual Audio Sensory Theater. Having been regarded as a talent to watch in Guitar Player Magazine at the ripe old age of thirteen, Crosby already has the ex-band-mates, and ex-label experiences enough to justify going it alone, and doing as much of the work on Music For People and 1998's self-titled debut as he wanted. With a fairly fluid line-up on stage, Crosby was able to be as decisive as he felt essential to Vast's sound without worrying about throwing off-kilter anyone's fragile ego.

You would never even guess that on this same planet Jonathon Davis, of Korn, is pissing and moaning (about how much of a psychological burden his wealth must be) in a $5,000 a day studio in Los Angeles somewhere as Mr. Crosby belts out "The Gates of Rock 'N' Roll," a song so large(r than life) that only Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices) could ever dream of topping it.

There is charm to Crosby's seeming naiveté, which makes Music For Everyone a lot like one of those As Seen On TV compilations pushing a double cd set brimming with the nostalgia of an age gone by. All that's missing on his album now are some guest vocals from Cindi Lauper. I actually enjoyed this cd quite a bit, and think that, in paying, perhaps, unintentional homage to the rock heroes of the eighties he is able to side-step all of their weaknesses, and actually form his own method of rock music.

8/10

© 2002 - Jason Thornberry