Ben Jackson Group - 'All Over You'
                                                                                                               Released through Screaming Ferret Records ion 3/29/2005
THE BAND:
Ben Jackson - Vocals & Guitar
Mark Borgmeyer - Guitar                                                                                                   
Dano Binz - Bass
Rich Tabor - Drums
Midnight - Guest Backing Vocals



TRACK FRAGMENTS:                                                                             
1.) "Turn It On" -The intro of this track opens with a Ben Jackson vocal line before going into a fairly standard eighties style musical arrangement.  At times through the drum arrangement Rich lets his stick just bounce off the ride cymbal.  This effect gives the ride cymbal pattern a lot of depth.  Usually when a songwriter goes to write the musical arrangement for the verse of the song they will pull back a little musically, letting the vocals of the vocal line carry the song.  This is not the case with Ben.  Ben wrote the musical arrangement of the verses with the same intensity as the intro sections.  The backing vocals of the chorus are fairly straight forward and very tight sounding.  The drum patterns where written around the rhythm guitar in doing this the band were able to make the song real thick sounding.  Either both Ben and Mark played on the solo, or, Ben overdubbed the his guitar solo.  One or the other it really doesn't matter the lead guitar solo has two different lead tracks giving the song a twin guitar solo.  During the outro section there is a very short twin lead guitar scale.
2.) "Mean Machine" -The opening drum pattern of this track has a construction sound to it.  To connect the intro to the pre-verse Ben plays a small lead guitar scale.  Underneath the lead guitar scale Rich incorporates a very very cool double bass drum rhythm.  Ben chose to sing the vocal lines of the verses with a little heavier feel.  The guitar arrangements of the verses are very laid back with a heavy sound to them.  The band added a very cool vocal effect to the pre-chorus.  Through the second verse there are these little pauses in the music arrangement that really sets the song off.  To connect the second chorus with the breakdown the band pulls back and plays the intro arrangement.  Through the breakdown Ben speaks a vocal line that was done with a very heavy almost demonic sounding vocal effect.  Much like the guitar solo on the first track this song also has a twin guitar solo.  The outro section of the song ends with the same construction arrangement as the opening intro.
3.) "All Over You" -This track opens with a late eighties hard rock intro.  The opening verse as a very cool amplified acoustic guitar arrangement.  The vocal lines of the pre-verse have a very subtle almost distant sound too them.  All I can say about the verse and chorus sections of this song are I was completely blown away!!!  The chorus has such a sweet hook it gives me chills just thinking about it.  it is a damn shame that this song is fifteen years too late or that or this would be a top ten song.  The solo was perfectly written and arranged. 
4.) "Falling Down" -This track opens with a very cool guitar riff.  In the fashion Ben wrote this opening intro section would make for a great opening song live.  Rich kicks the verse in with a tom-tom pattern.  Underneath the vocal line of the verse the guitar arrangement or more or less lead guitar riffs.  The musical arrangement underneath the guitar solo has such a driving force that the guitar solo is almost overshadowed. 
5.) "Ghost In The Mirror" -The piano arrangement underneath this intro section gives the intro a very progressive feel.  The second intro of this song consists of a piano, drum, and bass arrangement.  To open the verse Ben plays a huge eighties style lead guitar arrangement.  The vocal lines of the pre-verse have a very heavy feel to them.  If I had to guess, I would guess this is the track where former Crimson Glory vocalist Midnight helps in the backing vocals of the pre-chorus.  After the first chorus there is a minor lead guitar solo.  I loved he way Ben chose to arranged the backing harmonies on this song.  After the second chorus there is a small breakdown section.  The main guitar solo was placed at the end of the breakdown section.  The outro section ends with a piano arrangement.
6.) "Eyes Of Ice" -This track opens with a lead guitar scale along with a double bass drum rhythm.  The vocal lines of the verse where overdubbed which cause the vocals to have a very heavy feel.  The guitar riffs of the verses where done just using rhythm chords.  After the first pre-verse there is a small lead guitar scale.  Rich wrote on of the coolest drum rhythms for this song I believe I've ever heard.  Is sounded like both guitarist had a hand in the guitar solo of this song.  
7.) "Far And Away" - This track opens with an almost early eighties Sammy Hagar sounding guitar riff.  There is a twin lead guitar scale that connects the intro to the verse.  The vocal lines of the verse are very laid back.  I loved the backing vocal hook of the chorus.  After the first chorus there is a very short lead guitar scale.  The guitar solo was arranged very nicely but almost over shadowed by the rhythm guitar.  You can hear an acoustic guitar arrangement bleeding through the music.  This fills in a lot of the empty spaces left by the electric guitar.   
8.) "Heavy On My Mind" -This track opens with a real heavy guitar arrangement.  The vocal lines have an almost underground eighties metal feel to them.  The vocal harmonies of the chorus have a distant feel to them.  At times through the solo there is a small abstract feel to the lead guitar riffs.  During the last chorus of the song Ben added a vocal effect to his vocal lines.
9.) "Break It" -This intro section builds with power.  I really liked the fact the main arrangement pauses during the song letting Rich's drum patterns become the main focus of the song.  The double bass drum pattern of the chorus is where the song gets it's hook.  The guitar solo fit perfectly with this type of arrangement.  The song takes a little of an abstract turn during the breakdown.. I really wasn't expecting this type of breakdown for this song but it works.
10.) "Rock 'N' Roll Heaven" -This track opens with a very cool lead guitar riff.  you think by the sound of the pre-intro this song is going to kick in very heavy, but, guess again.  Ben kicks the main intro in with a very melodic sounding lead guitar scale.  The vocal lines of the verses are very laid back.  The main musical arrangement of the verse have a very solid groove.  I am not going to try and explain the backing vocal lines of the verses, you will just have to hear them to believe them.  After the first chorus there is a small lead guitar scale.  Vocally this is one of the best vocal line arrangements I've heard!!! 


    It has not happened too often in my lifetime where I have bought, or received a CD to review and I'm left with my mouth gapped open, just about completely speechless.  This is what as happened after listening to "All Over You".  The lyrical and musical writing on this album is just amazing.  On March 29, every young songwriter out there needs to purchase this release and take notes.  This is the way it's done!!!