Alec Berlin is not a stranger to us at The Metal Asylum as we have reviewed a few of his releases now and we are always eager to review more. Man’s Best friend is his latest album and was released on 30/03/2023.

Originally from Cleveland, Alec Berlin moved to New York City twenty-five years ago has shared the stage with the likes of Elton John, James Taylor, Rob Thomas, Ben Folds, Kenny Wheeler and Rufus Wainwright as well as performing in dozens of Broadway shows including Rent, Wicked, The Lion King and Bright Star.

Man’s Best friend features a lot of the tracks that we have already reviewed but having them all on one album is great for fans of this super talented musician.

Alec has a talent for blurring the lines between genres and his songs can be influenced by anything from classic rock to acoustic rock to country. You just never know what you are going to get next with this album.

The album features drumming of all types, from laid-back to full on energetic, with lots of crashing cymbals (always a favourite element of mine!)

The basslines, at times soothing and laid back, are also funky and give the album a certain groove and at times this grooviness is added to by the inclusion of jazz. The electronic synths that feature on this album compliment the funkiness and it certainly is a winning combination.

The guitar work ranges from classic rock riffs to more a more easy-going twang of country rock, but this does not take away from the sheer talent this guy has. He mixes both acoustic and electric guitars and the multi-layered guitar work really gives the tracks depth and dynamism.

Being instrumental, this album has no vocals to comment on, but the omission of lyrics by no means deflects from the phenomenal sound of this album. There is so much going on, musically, with this album that the listener is always engaged with it, and someone would need more than one play through to hear everything this album has to offer.

This is a fantastic album and one that will appear to fans of classic rock, country rock, prog rock, and everything other kind of rock in between. Stick this in your ears and you will be transported away from everyday life as the album really does take you on a sonic journey full of ups and downs and twists and turns.

Please, if there is just one artist you check out today, let it be Alec Berlin. He really is an immense talent and should be heard by so many more people.

Absolutely fantastic!

Track Listing:

1) Man’s Best Friend

2) Beat Confabulator (All Night On The Floor)

3) LaNoise

4) Minir Maad

5) Patchen Avenue

6) Life In The Bog

7) What I Wish I Had Said

8) Iota (Not One)

9) President’s Day

10) Flatbush Jaywalk

11) ROYGBIV

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum