TY TABOR
Rock Garden
(Inside Out Music)

For almost twenty years now, King’s X has been one of rock music’s best-kept secrets. ‘Tis a damn shame, too, ‘cause the three guys behind the King’s X name – Doug Pinnick, Ty Tabor and Jerry Gaskill – have consistently produced music more daring, progressive and hard rocking than just about any other band that comes to mind. The band members seemingly pay no mind to fleeting commercial considerations, however, each one of them readily diving headfirst into various side projects and solo endeavors even while working together to keep the music of King’s X vital, original and entertaining. Tabor’s Rock Garden is the talented guitarist’s third solo album and his fourth major musical project in three years (behind King’s X’s excellent Ogre Tones album, solo efforts from bandmates Pinnick and Gaskill and the cool Jelly Jam disc).

One might think that behind all this studio work and the recent King’s X tours, Tabor might be suffering from artistic burnout. No way, Jose! Behind the inspired guest vocals of Pinnick and Wally Farkas of the Galactic Cowboys, Tabor has created a veritable tapestry of sound and energy. Drawing upon his love of Beatlesque melodies, psychedelic instrumentation, heavy metal muscle and the musical freedom that rock & roll provides, Tabor has gone into his sonic kitchen and whipped up eleven perfect examples of his enormous talent. Tabor’s innovative guitar style and mastery of the instrument allows him great latitude in the type of material he composes, from the cosmic space-rock of "Play" to the staggered metallic-soul of "Ride" or the rootsy, riff-driven "Take It Back." Any one of these cuts would sound better on the radio than the latest dreck from Godsmack or Buckcherry. King’s X might be rock’s best-kept secret, tho’ it’s not for lack of effort – there seems to be no end to the exciting and entertaining music being created by Ty Tabor and his erstwhile bandmates, Rock Garden included. The Rev sez "check it out!" (Review copyright 2006 by Rev. Keith A. Gordon. Reprinted courtesy of Alt.Culture.Guide's monthly Rock & Roll Farm Report)