JamSphere Blog: "It's Not Real" Rock Song
HOME REVIEWS GARRY GEORGE WILKES: “IT’S NOT REAL” – CRAFTING DEEP ATMOSPHERES AND DREAM-LIKE POP-ROCK QUALITIESGarry George Wilkes: “It’s Not Real” – crafting deep atmospheres and dream-like pop-rock qualitiesPosted By: Jacob AidenPosted date: June 28, 2019in: ReviewsNo CommentsGarry George Wilkes is a musician from Portland, OR. He is fluent in many musical genres including pop, rock, classical and music for ballet. Many of his recordings have been compared to the Beatles. His latest single “It’s Not Real” was inspired by his own experiences with romantic love. The song deals with the feelings a couple experience when they realize the spark is gone from their long term relationship. Wilkes seems intent on pushing at the borders between modern pop and rock and classic melodic sounds that belong to a long gone era. His charmingly amorphous and easy to grasp chord progressions are captivating in their warm harmonics, while the song’s surface-level simplicity only serves to highlight how clever a songwriter he is.
The best moments of “It’s Not Real” feel sort of like sleepwalking, linking together fragmented emotions and shattered scenes with vaporous chord and a thick reverb mist. That’s why it makes sense for Garry George Wilkes to have cosmic strings, rich piano dirges, and heavenly basslines within the track.
When was the last time a daydream made as much sense as this? The lyrical images follow the same kind of fuzzy logic and slippery quality. The surreal images pile higher until, at the song’s pillowy climaxes, Wilkes deliver an explanation: “It’s not real. It’s not real anymore.”
The narrative structure of emotional reveries can often feel unsettling, but throughout, Wilkes use foggy images and slippery transitions as a soothing sort of déjà vu—you feel like you’ve been here before, even though you obviously haven’t. “It’s Not Real” sort of feels familiar.
But Wilkes’ music is so great because it feels like something you’d heard before—a distant memory of rock records long since forgotten. As a stripped return to the past, Garry George Wilkes may very well be the most comfortingly authentic retro rock songwriter I’ve heard in recent times.
It’s no secret that rock finds itself in dire straits these days due to a lack of innovation. While the genre’s roots are alive and evident, contemporary artists are electing to show flashes of it in their pop or metal rather than playing a traditional, and melodic sound.
“It’s Not Real” does serve as an excellent example of what a great melodic rock record should sound like. Wilkes has all the poppy, incandescent tones and beautiful, eerie melodies that have long made the genre accessible to the masses.
In fact Garry George Wilkes often reminds me of Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra. ELO also had many traits that were inherent to The Beatles music, plus they were efficiently creative at elaborating larger more complex orchestral soundscapes into their accessible pop-rock songs.
Something that Wilkes too, excels at. “It’s Not Real” captures an artist effortlessly crafting deep atmospheres and dream-like pop-rock qualities with a unique nod to the past. Wilkes delivers nearly everything nostalgic pop-rock fans want: familiarity, melody, and vast atmospheres to get lost in.
OFFICIAL LINKS: MUSIC STREAMS – ITUNES
HOME REVIEWS GARRY GEORGE WILKES: “IT’S NOT REAL” – CRAFTING DEEP ATMOSPHERES AND DREAM-LIKE POP-ROCK QUALITIESGarry George Wilkes: “It’s Not Real” – crafting deep atmospheres and dream-like pop-rock qualitiesPosted By: Jacob AidenPosted date: June 28, 2019in: ReviewsNo CommentsGarry George Wilkes is a musician from Portland, OR. He is fluent in many musical genres including pop, rock, classical and music for ballet. Many of his recordings have been compared to the Beatles. His latest single “It’s Not Real” was inspired by his own experiences with romantic love. The song deals with the feelings a couple experience when they realize the spark is gone from their long term relationship. Wilkes seems intent on pushing at the borders between modern pop and rock and classic melodic sounds that belong to a long gone era. His charmingly amorphous and easy to grasp chord progressions are captivating in their warm harmonics, while the song’s surface-level simplicity only serves to highlight how clever a songwriter he is.
The best moments of “It’s Not Real” feel sort of like sleepwalking, linking together fragmented emotions and shattered scenes with vaporous chord and a thick reverb mist. That’s why it makes sense for Garry George Wilkes to have cosmic strings, rich piano dirges, and heavenly basslines within the track.
When was the last time a daydream made as much sense as this? The lyrical images follow the same kind of fuzzy logic and slippery quality. The surreal images pile higher until, at the song’s pillowy climaxes, Wilkes deliver an explanation: “It’s not real. It’s not real anymore.”
The narrative structure of emotional reveries can often feel unsettling, but throughout, Wilkes use foggy images and slippery transitions as a soothing sort of déjà vu—you feel like you’ve been here before, even though you obviously haven’t. “It’s Not Real” sort of feels familiar.
But Wilkes’ music is so great because it feels like something you’d heard before—a distant memory of rock records long since forgotten. As a stripped return to the past, Garry George Wilkes may very well be the most comfortingly authentic retro rock songwriter I’ve heard in recent times.
It’s no secret that rock finds itself in dire straits these days due to a lack of innovation. While the genre’s roots are alive and evident, contemporary artists are electing to show flashes of it in their pop or metal rather than playing a traditional, and melodic sound.
“It’s Not Real” does serve as an excellent example of what a great melodic rock record should sound like. Wilkes has all the poppy, incandescent tones and beautiful, eerie melodies that have long made the genre accessible to the masses.
In fact Garry George Wilkes often reminds me of Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra. ELO also had many traits that were inherent to The Beatles music, plus they were efficiently creative at elaborating larger more complex orchestral soundscapes into their accessible pop-rock songs.
Something that Wilkes too, excels at. “It’s Not Real” captures an artist effortlessly crafting deep atmospheres and dream-like pop-rock qualities with a unique nod to the past. Wilkes delivers nearly everything nostalgic pop-rock fans want: familiarity, melody, and vast atmospheres to get lost in.
OFFICIAL LINKS: MUSIC STREAMS – ITUNES
Stereo Stickman Blog: "It's Not Real"
Garry George Wilkes leads with brilliantly poetic and fascinating lyrics on this latest release. While the presentation style is decidedly retro, distant sounding and tipping its hat somewhat to the likes of pop-rock legends from the sixties, the songwriting is notably refreshing, interesting throughout, and offers a likable, subtly memorable melody that’s easy to appreciate.
It’s Not Real is a song that takes on a common topic – that of difficulties in love, relationships – yet approaches it in a slightly new and deeply reflective manner. The opening verse lines draw you in for their sense of depth and originality, and later on – the melodic development, and indeed the calming lull of that simple, familiar chord progression, work well to create a comforting blanket of escapism.
Music fans who do indeed still find solace in the sound of The Beatles and Pink Floyd alike will almost certainly connect with the songwriting style and musicality of Garry George Wilkes. This release is well written, a pleasure to lose yourself within for a while, and a great introduction to an artist who writes from the heart and with a clear connection to the music that backs it up.
Download the music via iTunes. Visit Garry George Wilkes’ Website for more information
Garry George Wilkes leads with brilliantly poetic and fascinating lyrics on this latest release. While the presentation style is decidedly retro, distant sounding and tipping its hat somewhat to the likes of pop-rock legends from the sixties, the songwriting is notably refreshing, interesting throughout, and offers a likable, subtly memorable melody that’s easy to appreciate.
It’s Not Real is a song that takes on a common topic – that of difficulties in love, relationships – yet approaches it in a slightly new and deeply reflective manner. The opening verse lines draw you in for their sense of depth and originality, and later on – the melodic development, and indeed the calming lull of that simple, familiar chord progression, work well to create a comforting blanket of escapism.
Music fans who do indeed still find solace in the sound of The Beatles and Pink Floyd alike will almost certainly connect with the songwriting style and musicality of Garry George Wilkes. This release is well written, a pleasure to lose yourself within for a while, and a great introduction to an artist who writes from the heart and with a clear connection to the music that backs it up.
Download the music via iTunes. Visit Garry George Wilkes’ Website for more information
Link to my interview with the CATHOLIC SENTINEL regarding the world premiere of my organ piece for the Offertory section of the Catholic Mass: www.catholicsentinel.org/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=31&ArticleID=32109
SALLY CRONIN (Author, Broadcaster, Blogger, Publisher - "SMORGASBORD - Variety is the spice of life") CLICK ON LINK FOR 5 PART INTERVIEW OF GARRY: M-F, OCT 20-24, 2014
http://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/dementia-interview-garry-george-wilkes/
SALLY CRONIN (Author, Broadcaster, Blogger, Publisher - "SMORGASBORD - Variety is the spice of life") CLICK ON LINK FOR 5 PART INTERVIEW OF GARRY: M-F, OCT 20-24, 2014
http://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/dementia-interview-garry-george-wilkes/
MUEN MAGAZINE (Online Rock Magazine)
by Macavity
"THE (MUSIC) FROM THIS TALENTED ARTIST IS TRULY AN INTRIGUING ENCHANTMENT. ONCE YOU GO ON THE MUSICAL ADVENTURE AND HEAR THE TALE THE (MUSIC) TELLS YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MELANCHOLIC BEAUTY OF THE (MUSIC)..."THE (MUSIC) TELLS A TALE THROUGH BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN LYRICS...YOU ARE TAKEN ON A VERY PERSONAL TOUR OF LIFE WITH THE TRACK "IT SWALLOWED ME WHOLE". YOU SOON DISCOVER IT IS NOT JUST A TUNE WRITTEN IN A CAVALIER MANNER BUT RATHER AS AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL BEGINNING OF A PLACE IN THE ARTIST'S LIFE. SKILLFUL MUSICAL PERFORMANCES OF KEYS AND DRUMS COMBINE STUNNINGLY WELL TO SOFTLY ROCK THIS ANTHEM OF LIFE AND MAKE IT (A) STANDOUT TRACK. THIS IS A (S0NG) THAT TRULY GRABS MANY EMOTIONS AND PLACES THEM IN STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL ROCK MUSIC UNLIKE ANY OTHER ARTIST."
SHIRLEYMAE SMITH (SAGEL) (Freelance Journalist)
People tell me I have a good ear for great music. Most of my friends, family ask me to critique music for them.I listened to your song "It Swallowed Me Whole" and I like it a lot. It is wonderfully wrapped up. Your music has a beautiful soulfulness that touches the senses in an eerie but lovely way. I also found your song "The Butterfly" which I enjoyed immensely. You have enormous talent. Please keep the music alive. The world needs more of your style.
Sincerely ShirleyMae Smith (Sagel) Singer/Songwriter/ Poet/Freelance Journalist.
by Macavity
"THE (MUSIC) FROM THIS TALENTED ARTIST IS TRULY AN INTRIGUING ENCHANTMENT. ONCE YOU GO ON THE MUSICAL ADVENTURE AND HEAR THE TALE THE (MUSIC) TELLS YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MELANCHOLIC BEAUTY OF THE (MUSIC)..."THE (MUSIC) TELLS A TALE THROUGH BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN LYRICS...YOU ARE TAKEN ON A VERY PERSONAL TOUR OF LIFE WITH THE TRACK "IT SWALLOWED ME WHOLE". YOU SOON DISCOVER IT IS NOT JUST A TUNE WRITTEN IN A CAVALIER MANNER BUT RATHER AS AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL BEGINNING OF A PLACE IN THE ARTIST'S LIFE. SKILLFUL MUSICAL PERFORMANCES OF KEYS AND DRUMS COMBINE STUNNINGLY WELL TO SOFTLY ROCK THIS ANTHEM OF LIFE AND MAKE IT (A) STANDOUT TRACK. THIS IS A (S0NG) THAT TRULY GRABS MANY EMOTIONS AND PLACES THEM IN STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL ROCK MUSIC UNLIKE ANY OTHER ARTIST."
SHIRLEYMAE SMITH (SAGEL) (Freelance Journalist)
People tell me I have a good ear for great music. Most of my friends, family ask me to critique music for them.I listened to your song "It Swallowed Me Whole" and I like it a lot. It is wonderfully wrapped up. Your music has a beautiful soulfulness that touches the senses in an eerie but lovely way. I also found your song "The Butterfly" which I enjoyed immensely. You have enormous talent. Please keep the music alive. The world needs more of your style.
Sincerely ShirleyMae Smith (Sagel) Singer/Songwriter/ Poet/Freelance Journalist.
