Spyro Gyra: Love and Other Obsessions (1995) CD Review

Label: GRP (GRD 9808)

Track List

1)      Lost and Found

2)      Ariana

3)      Serengeti

4)      Fine Time To Explain

5)      Third Street

6)      Group Therapy

7)      Horizon's Edge

8)      Let's Say Goodbye

9)      On Liberty Road

10)   Rockin' A Heart Place

11)   Baby Dreams

Introduction

This is my favorite Spyro Gyra release (followed closely by Heart of the Night) of the 1990's. It didn't hurt that Love and Other Obsessions rose above a string of very pedestrian releases leading up to it. While the song selections are hit or miss (there are several tracks I either love or hate), the highs far outweigh the lows.

Audio Quality

For some reason, the recording quality on this release was not “up to par” with other Spyro Gyra releases. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just doesn't seem to have the dynamic range I'm used to. However, the performances and (some of) the writing are excellent bar none. My favorite tracks are Ariana, Third Street and Group Therapy. Not only does Third Street have a great horn arrangement, but it has one of the best recorded vibraphone solos I've heard in years; those of you who really dig Dave Samuels' (vibes) playing should checkout his own super group, the Caribbean Jazz Project. Group Therapy has a really sweet groove with an interesting rhythm guitar riff. As mentioned, there are an inordinate number of tracks I really don't like on this release (Serengeti, Fine Time To Explain, Let's Say Goodbye, Baby Dreams), but in these days of CD-R's and iTunes, it's easy enough to eliminate them from the playlist and come up with a solid set of music.

Summary

The main reason this release gets an overall rating of “4” is due to high number of tracks I just don't like (and therefore skip); my favorite tracks on this release are truly exceptional. In addition, the follow-up release (Heart of the Night), sees a return to the normally high standard of audio quality found on almost every Spyro Gyra release.

Scorecard

• Audio Quality: 3/5

• Features (liner notes): 4/5

• Overall: 4/5

Reference Equipment

• Yamaha DSP-A1 Natural Sound A/V Amplifier (Stereo Mode)

• Pioneer Elite CLD-99 Reference LD Player

• Polk Monitor 10B Speakers (x2)