CORRIDOR

Real Late

Manimal

When I received the new CD by Multi-instumentalist Michael Quinn, AKA Corridor, I knew that I’d have to listen to it at least ten times before giving my true opinion. His music tends to improve with each listen. Corridor’s music is dense, in a good way, full of virtuosic instrumentation that is played deliberately dark. This is not lightweight pop. He’s the only cellist in rock and roll whose performances are worthy of playing air cello to.  He’s truly an artist whose music stands alone as its own genre. On his new CD, Real Late, rhythms are daringly maintained long past traditional comfort zones, often abruptly changing tone and direction on a dime. This music challenges the listener and dares them to be worthy of the rewards at the end of the voyage, like trusting a sailor to escort you through icebergs as he smokes his pipe and follows the stars. Quinn’s vocals are ultra cool, and fade into the mix. I don’t pick up many of the lyrics, but with music this good supporting them, they must be about something awesome. Standout tracks include the cello-driven epic, “Rebuilding My Internal World” and the exotic intricate guitar heavy, also-epic track “Roam Room.” Really, epic could apply to all of these songs. Each track is a soundtrack to itself, and each clocks in between four and a half to eight minutes long. This is a CD that I will be listening to for years, and by the time December rolls along, this could be my favorite release of 2011.

-Scott Schultz