BOOT / TURN THE OTHER CHEEK / RARE GUINESS TAX LOSS OF FL PSYCH BOOGIE IN SHRINK

"Turn the Other Cheek" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) It's All Comin' Down   (Mike Mycz) -    rating: **** stars  
Starting out with some sparkling acoustic guitar and then showcasing some of Knox's ever tasteful lead guitar, 'It's All Comin' Down' had everything needed to be a hit - great melody, fantastic vocals from Mycz and band harmonies (which would have made CSN&Y turn green with envy), great lead guitar ...   One of the best things they ever recorded, shame it wasn't released as a single.   
2.) I've Been Thinkin'   (Dan Eliassen)    rating: **** stars  
Kicked along by a great Eliassen bass line and some excellent twin lead guitar (don't know if it was Knox overdubbing himself), 'I've Been Thinkin'' was the funkiest thing they ever recorded - imagine a really good Redbone song and you'd get a feel for this one.    
3.) I'll Be Fine Someday   (Bruce Knox) -   rating: *** stars
The first Bruce Knox composition, 'I'll Be Fine Someday' had a nice country-rock feel to it - more Buffalo Springfield than Poco.  
4.) Sick and Tired   (Dan Eliassen)    rating: ** stars
A routine slice of boogie-rock, 'Sick and Tired' was the first disappointment.  Professional, but completely forgettable it wasn't really helped by the fact it included a lengthy and needless Jim O'Brock's drum solo.  Mind you, O'Brock was one helluva a drummer - I'd tell you he was Boot's secret weapon, but among his strengths was the fact he wasn't showy, instead focusing on keeping the rest of the band focused ...  well, except for here.   By the way, Knox's screeching solo wasn't much better.  Yeah, it showed he could play fast and had a thing for Hendrix, but it seemed pasted on at the end of the song just to lengthen it.

(side 2)
'Even though the track listing showed five songs, side two was actually divided into two long suites and was quite different from the rest of their catalog in that it found the band exploring what sounded like a progressive sound, complete with some synthesizers and fairly complex song structures.
1.) The Outside World    (Bruce Knox - Jim O'Brock) -     rating: **** stars  
'The Outside World' incorporated all of those characteristics along with O'Brock's martial drums and Knox's always tasteful leads - this time lots of wah-wah pedal.  It made for one of my favorite performances.   
2.) Meaningless Madness of Man   (Bruce Knox) -     rating: ** stars  
'Meaningless Madness of Man' was easily one of their strangest offerings - imagine a Florida rock band that had been listening to lots of British progressive stuff.  The lyrics were actually quite funny.
3.) A Plea for the Masses   (Bruce Knox) -    rating: ** stars  
Starting out with some thunderstorm sound effects 'A Plea for the Masses' continued the band's rant against middle class, 9-to-5 lifestyles.     
4.) For Diana    (Bruce Knox) -   rating: *** stars
Opening up with some nice Knox lead guitar, 'For Diana' was one of their  prettiest ballads .  The song also showcased some unexpected synthesizer.  
5.) Everyone Come   (Bruce Knox - Dan Eliassen)     rating: **** stars  
Even better was the majestic 'Everyone Come'.  Co-written by Knox and Eliassen, this one was their prettiest melody with a performance to match.  Edited down this one could have easily scored them a hit.  Only complaint was that it was too short.  

So how'd it compare to the debut?  Even though this one's largely unknown to folks (not like Guinness tried to market the album), song for song I'd give the nod to this one.  These may have been castoffs from the debut, but perhaps because they were recorded with less pressure on the band and they were willing to experiment with unusual approaches, it was more entertaining.  That was enough to make it one of the better Guinness label releases.


At some point O'Brock was kind enough to post a band synopsis on the web which included updates on the former members.

- Eliassen retired from music and was living in St. Amant, Louisiana
- Sadly Knox had died of pancreatic cancer.
- Mycz had disappeared
- O'Brock opened up a handyman business in Shreveport, Louisiana where he plays drums for his local church.