Artist: Cristen Grey and the Moving Dunes
Title: 10,000 Things
Website: http://www.cristengrey.com
Style: Adult Contemporary
Rating: 8 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

You might have heard of Cristen Grey from her time spent as the rhythm and lead guitarist for the metal band, All Eyes, who opened for major musical acts like, Quiet Riot and Cinderella. When I read that I expected this release to be filled with smoking metal guitar riffs, but instead what I heard was ramped up adult contemporary music that reflects Grey’s spirit.

The album’s title comes from the Tao philosophy that, “we’re all in this world, but not of it; on a planet where three begat 10,000 things and all of them, including people, are interconnected…”

Stylistically Grey’s music has been compared to early Heart and Sheryl Crow in style, which I also think is a fair comparison. Grey’s songs are about human emotions, some good, but mostly bad and that no matter how far a person falls their human spirit of resiliency will pick them back up and keep them moving forward.

The mid-tempo song, “So Much Better,” get things started. The song’s lyrics deal with how much better things are when you’re experiencing them with your one special soul mate.

Highlight tracks for me included, “Out of Control,” a pop/rock song that offers up several nice tempo changes in it. “Bad Emotion,” is a gritty rock number, featuring big rock guitar sounds. This song felt much like a shaken can of soda pop, that when opened up, comes rushing out with its big sounds.

The why track for me was, “Aqualine Cove,” a 30 second instrumental track that felt like it was just thrown in to the album with no real reason for being there.

Things end up really strong with the mandolin driven, bluegrass, country feeling song, “Stir up a Swarm.” The song deals with the power of words and how when used carelessly they can create a swarm of emotions in reaction to them. Last up is, “God Drove by in a Limousine,” an alt. country sounding track that’s filled with fast beats and deals with the power of music.

If you’ve always wanted to give the adult contemporary music format a try but was afraid that it would be too boring then you should give 10,000 Things a listen with its more up tempo variation of the AC genre.