Jason Stewart “Compound Destiny” Rare is the artist capable of recording an album benefiting from diversity. But due to Jason Stewart’s knack for writing interesting songs, crafting enterprising arrangements, wielding a mean guitar and singing straight from the gut, “Compound Destiny” gushes with color and light. The tunes on this disc were composed over a ten-year period, and like the music itself, an assortment of topics and thoughts are addressed. Fired by shots of piercing riffs and rushing rhythms, “Everyone Is Insane” rocks with purpose, where “My Fellow Americans” and “You And Me” can somewhat be defined as electronic reggae. Even those allergic to rap music will love the cute and cuddly “Martian Rap,” and “They Say” weds modern psychedelic sounds with concrete pop melodies. “Strange Clouds” is full on speed metal and the caffeine-fueled (pun totally intended) “Too Much Coffee” twitters and jitters to a hokey hillbilly beat. “Compound Destiny” targets no select audience, as Jason makes music he believes in that moves his own soul. As far as influences go, The Cars, Pink Floyd, Depeche Mode, The Scorpions, Metallica and even Bob Dylan spring to mind. Beverly Paterson: "Twist and Shake"; "The Lance Monthly" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some excerpts from Chas Pikes' "Jyckin' Around" (October 2009 issue of "The Lance Monthly) Back in the hotel I munched a couple of fish tacos and put the second CD into the player: Jason Stewart's "COMPOUND DESTINY.” This was a little mother lode. While his brother had scored and laid out a respectable 12 tracks on "BACK IN THE MOAT," the prodigious Jason logs in with no less than 17. The opening chords of the first track "Deal With It" sound like vintage Pink Floyd, but quickly veer into unchartered territory. The next 16 songs take us on a tour of the modern guitar, from vintage power chords, to furious tapping and shredding in the style of wild-man Ronnie James Dio. Jason not only shows his mastery of the fingerboards, he ably mans all of the other instruments as well. The use of double-track harmonies accentuate the songs of love, loss and alienation, in a way that reminds one of early Nilsson, but the atomic guitar is pure Stewart. For some reason, the songs that stick in my head the most are two little novelty songs hidden in the midst. "Martian Rap" is a neo-throwback in the style of Sheb Wooley or The Big Bopper. Two aliens land on Earth looking for a place to jam—quirky, witty, and just good ear jam. "Too Much Coffee" is a cautionary tale of cozying up to the dark master, caffeine. "COMPOUND DESTINY" is packed to the rafters with artistry and wit, and left me hungry for even more.