By Lisa Finocchio | Managing Editor

Sometimes it is difficult to assign a genre to music. I know that if such labeling were up to me, I’d use a lot more similes. You know — “It sounds kind of like so-and-so and a little like so-and-so, but with a lot more techno.”

Accurately describing music is not something I’m particularly good at, so I’ve spent a lot of time hanging around the office listening to Gabe Vitek and the Ivory’s “Voices” and trying to figure out the next step of this process. I even Googled “How to write a music review,” but believe it or not that wasn’t very helpful.
On MySpace, Gabe Vitek and the Ivory is described as “pop/rock/jazz,” and as far as musical descriptions go, I find this particularly accurate. Vocalist and keyboardist Gabraham Vitek penned most of the songs, which are backed by Joe Hoogerhyde on guitar and vocals, Richard Scott on drums and Blake Stratton on bass and vocals.

Many of the 11 tracks on “Voices” are piano-heavy, which is something I’ve always loved in music, but there’s enough bass and percussion to keep most listeners interested. The vocals are slightly reminiscent of Adam Levine, front man of the pop/rock band Maroon 5.

From this album, “Get Movin’,” “Comfort of You” and ”Rooftops” are three tracks that impressed me most, both musically and lyrically. I’m a writer myself, and I’m very appreciative of well-written, catchy songs. All three of these meet my expectations. It’s difficult to enjoy songs that are lyrically boring, but Vitek’s writing style adds another layer of complexity to the album.

The album is cohesive and flows well, and Vitek’s voice conveys emotions that are mirrored by graceful piano arrangements. Catchy melodies and intricate harmonies build a foundation for well-written, enjoyable songs that fans of bands like The Beatles, Maroon 5, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer and Damien Rice should appreciate.

Listen online
To hear Gabe Vitek and the Ivory, visit www.MySpace.com/GabeVitekandtheIvory or www.GabeVitekandtheIvory.com.

Listen live
Gabe Vitek and the Ivory will be at Exit/In in Nashville on Wednesday, September 23; visit www.ExitIn.com for ticket information.

– Lisa Finocchio, Managing Editor