Guitar wizard Phil Keaggy has finally given us an album that is totally devoid of what is so distracting on his most recent efforts. I'm speaking about lyrics, of course. 220 has none. In the liner notes, there is a quote from St. Francis of Assisi that I'm sure I'll use in the future: "Go out today and preach the Gospel . . . and if you must, use words." Keaggy is quite a preacher when he has a guitar in his hands.
Being of Scottish descent, I particularly enjoyed "Highland." It begins as a raucous romp and gradually settles down into a reflective reverie. Hunter Lee adds the authentic sounds of the Scottish warpipes and tin whistle while Chris Carmichael contributes on the fiddle. Break out the kilts for this one!
Other titles with regional references include "Montana" and "Tennessee Morning." "Montana" would be suitable for a modern western movie soundtrack. It sounds similar to the music in "Young Guns II" and "Tombstone." "Tennessee Morning" is a slow paced country/jazz ballad with subtle piano accompaniment by Patrick Leonard.
Keaggy yields plenty of variety on 220. Styles include: basic rock in "Animal;" southern rock in "Stomp;" meandering fusion sounds in "Watt Ever (220 Jam);" ambient textures in "Beyond This Day;" and classical flavorings in the intro to "The Great Escape." Overall, it falls between pop and jazz. There are long solos that are above and beyond the quality you hear on pop albums, but virtually no jamming goes on among the band members. It's extremely listenable music; it's not overly complex like much jazz but great for riding alone in the car on a clear night with the windows down.