****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
"It's a `Brown' sound. Big, warm, fuzzy and majestic" - Edward Van Halen describing his unique and innovative signature guitar sound.Think about that, a "Brown" sound - a visual description to an auditory occurrence or event. One might just say that's a misnomer. I disagree. Personally that makes all the sense in the world. I've never claimed to be an expert, and my business card doesn't say "musical critic"...but I know music. I understand that it's a living thing and yes I understand what it's like to "see" it. I've been blessed to be haunted with the obsessive nonstop pre-occupation for music and have for almost 4 decades now...it's a wonderful curse. Not for just listening to the music, but being able to look through the notes and lyrics and see its collage of colors. Some artists end up with a complete and well assembled composition...while others have missed the canvas.The point is; I'm not a musical critic - I'm more, and if you'll permit me I'd like to request your trust in my opinion.Released in 2009, the CD "No Turning Back" by CTS and Jeff Senour has represented sight and sound to me as if I had just began to be infected with infatuation for music all over again.I would describe their music as pushing the envelope to explore, and then exploit every wall and boundary found only within the limits of their own genre. "No Turning Back" and its 16 tracks show that CTS has remained perfectly honest to themselves and their abilities as they have written their way through each song differently while maintaining unwavering quality with signature sound. Certain tracks were recorded to capture and contain the raw rock edge that ignites your auditory senses, others will captivate you with infectious and melodious power ballads, some will move you as you note the brilliance of the lyricism and songwriting therein, there are some that will remind you what unadultered joy in youth was like, inversely others will break your heart...just so you remember what your heart feels like, followed by the awe inspiring recognition and praise for the hero's we see in our lives - and the ones we don't.The music is as diverse as it could be, while remaining as common as it can be, written by a group to be just what they wanted it to be. This is not a band, they are artists. They play with color.I would describe who they are as anything but what you may think. From what I know - none of them knows what a "rock star" is and has no desire to; which fits them well for they are humble. They do not seek their own personal success; that gives them class. They believe that every effort of theirs is but to serve a greater good - one common to all of us; that makes them selfless. While with generous hearts offering a steadfast portion of all proceeds earned to give to what they believe in; and that shows their generous character. That's who they are. Rooted in deep Patriotism, through amazing music, CTS dedicates their talents to serve a greater cause, one which we all benefit from. They have been men enough to stand up and do it in a time where everyone else sits things out.While Edward may have considered his sound "Brown", I'm here to tell you that CTS and Jeff Senour are "Red, White and Blue" all day long.I wouldn't simply recommend this CD; I would recommend that you not spend another day without this entire experience of CTS. Not simply for the music; but for the men, the cause and the greater good larger than all of us."Climb aboard and catch them as they go by, CTS is a rapidly moving entity - rapidly moving straight up that is!"***** Five StarsDanny Jones - Independent Writer
