Singer-songwriter Garko (aka Gary Konigsberg) believes, “You can't change the world, you can only change how you see the world. But when you change how you see the world, the world changes." On his newly released, Fear No Love CD (released 10/25/13), he attempts to “get that anger out” (a title) and challenges the listener, in the E Street soul of the record’s opener, to “dare to be tender.” He continues by asking, “Mister, have you got it in ya?” where he seems to be aiming the question as much inward as he does at the listening audience. Garko’s previous CD, Spirits In The Silence, documented his journey from angry liberty activist to a man in search of solutions to a spiritual seeker of peace, love and joy in his own heart. His sophomore release, Fear No Love, is a continuation of this mission and beyond. In “Don’t Need No Ticket,” an answer to Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready,” he states that "you don't need no ticket 'cause there ain't no train/right where you are is heaven my friend." He ends with the meditation of "breathe in God/breathe out love." With songs like this, as well as “I Met Christ” (“I met Christ on the subway/I met Christ in the marketplace/I met Christ when I wasn’t looking/And I met Christ face-to-face”), Garko shows his embracive, inspirational and spiritual side. There are also lighter moments, as in the catchy, but strange and creepy novelty song, “Zombie In Disguise” (apparently inspired by David Bowie and other theatrical rockers) and a paean to his cat called “Unconditional Love.” Elsewhere, “Sunday Morning” is a sweet pop tune, complete with a spoken reminiscence from his childhood. But don’t be fooled by this kinder, gentler Garko. There are plenty of scathing pokes at society, like on the scorching and sardonic, “Prayer for the Banker Man,” with its playful female backing vocals and on his indictment of the educational system, “Ridin’ On the Rim.” He sums up his frustration in the very personal harmonica-driven rocker, “Caught In the Crossfire,” where he “seeks to find a peaceful avenue,” but “feels conflicted” and finds his passion “hard to suppress.” Musically, the Garko Factor draws from a variety of sources, including the Clash-like reggae of “Get That Anger Out,” the driving, frat-rock feel of “Bone Dry and Empty,” and, with its vibraphone accents and gentle images of comfort and contentment, “Sunday Morning” hints at the softer side of the Jersey-based band The Rascals (originally known as The Young Rascals).. But by far, Garko’s main influence comes courtesy of another New Jersey native, Bruce Springsteen. He admits that Springsteen “has kept [him] company and been a big part of the soundtrack of [his] life for more than three decades.” He added that Springsteen always had the gift of turning his “inner angst into art … always exhibiting humanity and intelligence in his music.” He continued, “I feel that some of that influence has been passed on like a torch into my own music." The album closes with the reflective and reassuring “Back Home Again.” Garko sees that amidst the changes, chaos and difficult journeys, there’s a destination at the end of the journey. “Sure as the world keeps turning, we’ll be right back home again.” **************************************** Garko does it again – Fear No Love Complete is a sweet, ‘from-the-head’ folk rock CD, with 16 tracks of easy to listen to pop and cabaret style tunes that are about love and affection, or otherwise chilling out. The songs have an advocacy feel, gently instructing listeners to "Dare to be Tender," or "Make the Best of What you Got " song titles and lyrics. The CD is manly music about being a loving and peaceably living person, without over sentimentality or affectation. In the bouncy song "Get that Anger Out" the pronouncements to ‘dance real crazy, sing out loud’ ask listeners to repel their rage or stress to straightforward ‘lighten up’ affirmations and actions, that takes the rational attitude and approach associated with the male gender to just ‘snap out of it’ and deal with life head on. The same take the world by the horns attitude is evidenced in other tracks like ‘Ridin On the Rim’ and ‘Don't Need a Ticket.’ This is where another swerve is thrown by the CD, because in the midst of all the aggressive real world self-reliance suggested by the songs, spirituality and a call for believing in the kingdom to come is another theme presented throughout. From ‘I Met Christ’ to ‘Prayer for the Banker Man,’ or ‘Sunday Morning’ songs return to faith time and again, in addition to asking us to the the ‘Unconditional Love’ message of the other tracks. It is as if the "fear no love" title is meant to apply across the spectrum, from loving life to loving God and Spirit, without mushy pretense. People will like the wit latent in many of the songs, as in the pseudo-interview opening to “Bone Dry and Empty” where Garko goes hard-nosed realist again, and insists there is nothing but the song behind both the music and his energy. The simplicity of this and other tracks on the album just reinforces the other more serious tone of the other matters while retaining the hardheaded attitude, straight on attitude toward all the subjects sung about. If you want a sentimental, ‘la la la’ tribute to romance and worship, go elsewhere – this CD rocks with straightforward songs that covers the territory, without turning one's brain off.