![](images/spacer_FFFFFF.jpg) Stratospheerius
![](images/spacer_FFFFFF.jpg) Headspace
![](images/spacer_FFFFFF.jpg) Review by Greg Olma
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Stratospheerius is really a vehicle for the talents of Joe Deninzon. His electric violin is the main focal point of the music and although the other musicians in the band definitely hold their own, it would be hard to take him out of the equation. I am reviewing this after just seeing my first concert by Stratospheerius so some of the tracks are still fresh in my mind. What I find captivating about the CD is that although many styles are brought to the table, they somehow live comfortably together within the context of the songs. There is a little jazz mixed in with rock on some tracks while on other tunes, the band melds in some country and funk parts that give the whole album a little bit of a prog feel. With that odd mix of styles, this project could have gone horribly wrong but Deninzon and company keep things musical so that the listener is kept interested but not overwhelmed with styles and sounds. Only 4 out of the 10 songs on offer here are instrumentals so it really is an album for the masses (not just the musos out there). My recommendation is to put away your pre-conceived notions of the violin (this is not The Charlie Daniels Band) and give the record a shot.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2007 Volume 3 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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