| Brad Heller and The Fustics make music that radiates from an earnest and honest
place. If Heller isn't singing songs echoing a good time, he's painting pictures
of life that many can identify with. The singer's heart-on-the-sleeve style is
wrought with people he's met during a life of travels, and influences ranging
from Son Volt to Bruce Springsteen.
Beyond This Life is a mix of friendly rockers and laments on the common man's
life, from relationships to the war overseas. The title track shares a
punk-blues feel to it and "Bloodstained Streets" has a college funk vibe,
recalling Dillon Fence with a New Orleans Zydeco feel. "Brothers" is Heller
alone with a guitar, spare and brooding. "I'll Walk With You" is radio-ready, a
jumping song with a catchy melody and a fiery saxophone solo.
Heller has an everyman quality, warm and rustic vocals adding depth to the
intimate songs. Barren and ghostly images intertwine Heller's music, like the
beautifully brooding "Western Skyline" where he sings "I can almost feel the
arid wind choke my lungs" against faint acoustic guitar strumming and harmonica
playing.
Much of the songwriting is road-inspired, and at times spare and tempered.
Its earthy tenacity shares a kindred spirit with the common man. But for all its
up-tempo energy, Beyond This Life finds gold in slower songs, those that deliver
more with restraint and introspection. If music is about the translation of
experience then The Fustics' new album delivers. (Self Released)
http://www.myspace.com/thefustics | 
