Venice - Spin Art (Vanguard)
Jackie Smith
8/31/99 11:33:48 AM

Spin Art is the second album produced by the family oriented rock group, Venice.The album, which was released on August 24th, is a follow up the band's first recording Born and Raised.  Venice's new 13 track album sounds like old style rock and roll complete with four part harmonies and acoustic and electric guitars.

The band is no stranger to the music scene.  These men are the brothers and cousins of the Lennon Sisters and the sons of the 1940s group, the Lennon Brothers.Emerging from the Los Angeles club scene, Venice was created 17 years ago by Kipp and Mike Lennon and their cousins, Pat and Mark.

The band's music mixes up rock and roll, folk, pop, and r&b.  Their sounds conjure up familiar memories of groups such as the Allman Brothers, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and the Eagles.  Spin Art contains short songs, with big impact.  The music has an uplifting tempo that just makes you feel good.  And the mellow sounds are perfect for listening to when doing work, driving in your car, or just lounging around the house on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Despite the music's uplifting mood, the lyrics resemble the words of a love sick heart.  In the track 'So Bad' Kipp sings "I've got someone to hold but no to have, and it hurts so much to love someone so bad."  Kipp sings in the track 'Garden Wall,' "No one sees the flowers fade and fall, there behind the garden wall."

But Spin Art also touches on more than just love and heartbreak.  "In a sense, you could say that the album is bookended," said Kipp.  'The ManYou Think I Am' starts off the record with a song about my son and having kids, while 'Family Tree' talks about the family, moving on and growing."

Spin Art's acoustic sound and vocal melodies will appeal to those who still appreciate their folk rock records and a sound that is now a rarity in rock of the 90s.