- Artist: View/Mcdowell
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1991
- Genre: Rock
Review
View, an alternative pop-rock trio that consisted of lead singer/guitarist Jack McDowell, bassist Lee Plemel and drummer Wayne Edwards, wasn't well known in the music world; their 1991 album, Extendagenda, received very little attention. But View's name has appeared on various sports-related websites because at least two of their ex-members (Plemel and group leader McDowell) have played professional baseball. Some hardcore baseball addicts have searched for Extendagenda out of sheer curiosity--they wanted to hear what a group that included McDowell and Plemel sounded like. But Extendagenda isn't noteworthy simply because of the baseball connection; this is a generally decent, if inconsistent, effort that has been heavily influenced by ‘60s rock. The trio's sound owes something to both British and American bands from that era--they have obviously been affected by British Invasion rockers like the Beatles and the Yardbirds, although they haven't escaped the Byrds' influence either. But like R.E.M. and Bill Popp & the Tapes (a great but little known band from New York), View knows how to be very ‘60s-minded without becoming an exact replica of ‘60s bands. That isn't to say that View is in a class with either R.E.M. or Popp's band--McDowell's singing, although competent, isn't exceptional, and his writing is a bit uneven. Some of the songs that McDowell wrote for Extendagenda are more memorable than others, but the best tracks (which include "Prodigal," "Sigmund on the Wall" and "Tell Me Something") indicated that View was well worth keeping an eye on. Extendagenda has more plusses than minuses, and the CD is noteworthy even if you have no interest in baseball. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi| Extend the Spine (2008 Album by Mimi Loureiro) | |
| Extended (1981 Album by Freddie Hubbard) |
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