When Jim Allchin gets it in his mind to do something, he pours his heart and soul into the endeavor, giving it all he has and then some. And that’s exactly the case with his current blues rock CD, Overclocked.
For most of his adult life, Allchin has been a prolific computer programmer and engineer. The former Microsoft executive is best known for building the company’s server business. Few were aware though of his lifelong passion for music, not to mention his insane talent as a musician, until he retired and released Enigma in 2009. Pleased with how it was received, Allchin got back to work composing and producing the 13-piece extravaganza that came to be known as Overclocked which has successfully rocked the genre’s very foundation.
In the tech world, “overclocking” a computer means making it run faster in order to enhance its performance. However, this usually leads to a meltdown at some point down the road. This is the perfect title then for Allchin’s album, minus the meltdown part of course, unless you count the fact that your mind will be blown after listening to these high energy performances.
Overclocked bursts with heart-pounding blues shuffles and boogies, jazz jams, R&B and rock ’n’ roll courtesy of some of Seattle’s most legendary musicians. These include drummers Chris Leighton and Ben Smith; bassist Garey Shelton and keyboardist Ty Baillie. However, it is Allchin himself who steals the show hands down with his incredibly intense and confident mastery of the guitar. At times it’s easy to mistake his playing for that of guitar hero Jimi Hendrix and that’s definitely no hyperbole. Guitar geeks everywhere would do well in picking up a copy of Overclocked for this reason alone.
Luckily, Allchin’s frantically delightful instrumentals help compensate for his less than stellar vocals. Many critics praise his smooth tenor voice and clear articulation of the lyrics, but for the most part, it gets drowned out by the awesome beats. His vocal abilities are better suited for jazzier numbers like “Willow Tree” and ballads like “The One.” But blues music is a whole different animal – it has a grittier quality that requires growls, rumbles and similar effects to convey its soulful message. Allchin’s not very convincing as a blues singer, as it feels like he’s merely going through the motions. Having a guest vocalist like Kelly Whitney though more than makes up for it. Her seductive variations on “One For the Money” and “Perfect Game” are spot on, making for an enjoyable listening experience.
With the exception of the last two tracks mentioned, Overclocked could stand alone as an instrumental record because that’s how flawless the music itself is. Standout numbers include the rock ‘n’ roll-laden title song, “Overclocked,” which is a shot of high-octane guitar riffs straight to the core. Then there is the heart-wrenchingly beautiful ballad, “Opening My Eyes to Love” at the close. If you’ve ever wondered the sound a heart makes when it’s bleeding, rest assured Allchin captures it in this can’t miss piece.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Jim Allchin’s Overclocked, especially after learning he was at the helm. I highly recommend this adrenaline rising set for a good time to be had by all.
For more information on Overclocked, please visit Jim Allchin’s website.