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from Acoustic Guitar Magazine
by Teja Gerken,
This latest recording from Austrian-born, California-based Thomas Leeb may finally make the self-proclaimed “bastard child of fingerstyle guitar” a household name, at least among fans of progressive acoustic playing in the tradition of Michael Hedges, Preston Reed, and Eric Roche (to whom the album is dedicated). Recorded “live in the studio,” Upside Down is an energetic set of original compositions and creatively arranged cover tunes. Leeb uses a generous array of extended techniques, including alternate tunings, harmonics, hammer-ons, and two-handed tapping, on his Lowdens. But unlike many guitarists who emphasize similar feats of dexterity at the expense of melody, Leeb produces tunes that you’ll find yourself humming long after the CD is over. He also proves that he’s no slave to flashy technique, by confidently taking a “straight” approach to such traditional pieces as the German “Erzherzog Johann Jodler” and the Irish “The Boys of Blue Hill.” And his hard-rocking opener “Albino” puts Leeb into the rare category of solo guitarists whose music you could dance to. Although his solo arrangement of “I Shot the Sheriff” owes more to Eric Clapton’s toned-down version than to Bob Marley’s original, its inclusion (along with Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine”) in such a varied program demonstrates the adventurous spirit that helps make Upside Down so enjoyable.
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