Every once in a while a recording comes from out of the blue that completely knocks your socks off.

THISWAY's most recent assemblage of extraordinarily well-crafted songs represents one such occurrence.

Catchy, insightful and fun, what could otherwise be a lazy approximation at Radiohead/Coldplay tunes is propelled to inspired heights of realized originality and expansive artistry in the hands  of this New York City-based band.

Fronted by singer/songwriter/guitarist Brandon Wilde, THISWAY formulates a tapestry of music built around tales of self-reflection and acute universal observation.

Presented with a constrained emotional urgency, songs on this collection implore you to stop and listen, while simultaneously encouraging you to take a philosophical and perspective-expanding musical journey.

Among the many appealing aspects of these songs is the underlying philosophy so effectively uttered through the lyrics. From the opening moments of FAST ASLEEP to the almost mystical echoes of SLEEP, these songs make a lasting impression and express a heart-felt plea for not only embracing the potentiality of life, but for realizing the potential which exists within the individual Self.

In FAST ASLEEP, the beat hastens gradually, the aural urgency thickening, steadily building upon the lyrical impetus for change and action.  "Everyone's tired of waiting for so long", Wilde sings, as a Strawberry Fields-like melody sneaks in. This song lyrically expands upon the idea of breaking down walls and barriers, waking up to assume a positive impact on the world. ("We got no time to be misled, we're hanging by a thread...").

The Lennon/Beatles hybrid approach to sincerity in songwriting surfaces again in the upbeat LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME with  its 'find your own way' chorus and a happy harmony of 'no restrictions' and a new dedication to freedom of choice (or, rather), of simply making a choice to begin with.

This open-minded mindset gives itself over easily to the melodic, psychedelic asides and  pulsing guitar within ONE DAY as it suggests "Follow the pages of your destiny...").

7 GROOVE's immediately compelling beats and irresistible guitar draw forms the foundation for the message of becoming a full player in the game of life in order to truly be alive while reassuring that there is nothing to lose in the giving of oneself.

"When you open up your eyes, let the light come crashing in"  the lyrics urge, saying, "you'll still be the one" and you just may end up being a better 'one' for it.

Brandon Wilde's emotionally revealing and alternately falsetto/ purposive voice evokes Bono, Lennon, Thom Yorke. The poetic ghosts of Jeff Buckley and Freddie Mercury even turn up at various instances, specifically in the disc's touching, and acoustic-tinged ballad "LET YOU GO", depicting the sadness of impending loss [.."it's hard for me to watch you go free/like losing part of my soul/so sad that I let you go..."]. 

There are also vocal moments recalling the playful vibrancy of Rufus Wainwright and all of Queen ("UNDERTOW"). Now, that's a LOT of musical style in one neat package!

Yet one of the most evident examples of THISWAY's breadth is the U2 influence.

U2 has ceaselessly proposed life-affirming passion through music and THISWAY supports and answers the call within the emotional highs of "CELEBRATE"

("yeayyy...got something to say/got something to celebrate/and nothing to hide from anymore...!")

and the accompanying Bono-ish 'oooh-wooo-hooo's' and Edge-like guitar work. Where U2 posits "if I could/you know I would/if I could..I would let it go..", finally declaring "I'm wide awake/I'm not sleeping...", THISWAY takes the musical argument one step further in its plaintive refrains of "I just want to wake up" (FAST ASLEEP) after sleeping for way too long.

The final song on this collection, "SLEEP", has a fade-in intro and a soulful outro that could make Bono look twice,  suggesting "there's no better time to open your eyes... and to give yourself away...", calling for a commitment to action, of going to the light and participating in life, and taking a chance and reaching beyond the Self,  even without a guarantee in the outcome. 

Go for it, give it a shot, THISWAY prods, because (as the song,  HEAD TO THE GROUND asserts),  when it's time for that final curtain call and you pause to take stock of your life, "you only hope that you won't regret/won't regret".

Yet, a THISWAY composition is much, much more than just intellectual wordplay. There's an abundance of layered musicality and pure talent displayed in Wilde's singing, Chris Foley's scintillating guitar and Len Monachello's tempered bass ("7 GROOVE").

Andy LaDue's moving percussion almost single-handedly sets and maintains the pace, successfully establishing the emotional drive. The music surrounds you, envelopes you and cradles you. The production and presentation is without flaw.

Life is meant to be met head on, courageously, earnestly and  with an open heart. It calls upon us all to give of ourselves and   to accept that which we can't control, but at the same time, to do the best we can with the free will we have been given.

Being able to ask "what is there to lose in giving of yourself?"  wthin an entertaining and thought-provoking package (and then to do it all within a few succinct notes of music) is a colossal achievement  to be sure.

Life can be like a hurricane, prone to earthquakes and loves vicissitudes, yet, everyday, there's always something with the potential to simply take your breath away... and THISWAY wouldn't want it anyother way, and neither should any one of us. 

THISWAY's music not only commands your attention, the salvation of your rock n roll soul absolutely insists upon it.