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Lee Nysted: Whispers of Wisdom

By Keith Hannaleck

Artist: Lee Nysted
Title: Whispers of Wisdom
Genre: Rock
Label: Nysted Music/The Orchard
Website: www.leenysted.com

With Whispers of Wisdom, Lee Nysted has become a sort of modern-day musical shaman. The title of this album suggests the invisible spirit within each of us that will guide us through the most troubling of times and deliver to us an inner peace - if we only take the time to hear its voice. His lyrics are both personal and philosophic, but he modestly credits a higher power for his inspiration. His acoustic guitar playing would have made Andrés Segovia sit up and take notice and his electric playing is on par with many great contemporary artists of today.

Nysted was born a free spirit, but life for him has not always remained that way. Along the path he was ravaged by an addiction that threatened the freedom and the life he prized. Thankfully he experienced a spiritual awakening that helped break the shackles that were dragging him down. He writes about this awakening on the songs “Whispers of Wisdom” and “Thanks to Ragsdale”. Both are powerful compositions that incorporate his immaculate acoustic playing and his scorching electric guitar mastery.

“Aruba” comes straight from Lee’s heart, and has a fun and exotic rhythm with a melody to match. He travels there every year for his vacation. It’s a natural escape to paradise where he sits in the sun, sails on the ocean, and walks the sandy beaches. The beautiful scenery inspires Lee to pick up his guitar and compose some of his best music.

The Lee Nysted Experience includes an exceptional lineup of versatile musicians with Nysted playing guitar synths, electric and acoustic guitars, and sharing vocal credits with Andrew Johns and Yata. On the keyboards are Scott Bennett and Andrew Johns. Alan Berliant plays the bass while Todd Sucherman (Styx) and Matt Walker share credit for the drums, while Sucherman adds even more percussion. Together they create music that is at times powerful and cinematic, but when they really cut loose, it is with a fierce energy and passion, the kind that Lee lives for life itself.

I have always had a personal connection with Lee, and every time I listen to his music it becomes stronger. I imagine that one of those stars on the cover image to Whispers of Wisdom is Lee Nysted escaping from that fiery and turbulent nebula. Now he is free to drift off into the vast cosmos and shine through his words, his guitar playing and his art. For this music lover and intense listener, that alone means everything.

Reviewed - August 13, 2007

Tracks:

01. Aruba
02. Here Today
03. Whispers of Wisdom
04. Light Of The Sun
05. Thanks To Ragsdale
06. Telluride
07. One World
08. The Path Least Traveled
09. The Valley Spirit
10. This Is Your Love Song

About the Author:

Keith Hannaleck, known as “MuzikMan” is a Journalist specializing in independent and major music reviews and the promotion of artists via the various media outlets flourishing online. He has worked closely with artists, management, publicity directors, and webmasters to provide some of the best and far-reaching coverage an artist could have. Focusing primarily on the internet as a medium for his work, Keith has been a pioneer in the industry changing the way a reviewer with his various talents are used by many artists, PR folks, and labels. He has provided strong and valuable work to labels, artists, and publicity people, writing reviews, press releases, and biographies and much more over the years, giving the people he works with the maximum amount of exposure through several top-notch websites that post his content on their sites.

Hannaleck built and maintained his own website in 1998 while networking and building his reputation through thousands of reviews and interviews, creating a special niche for himself. Through many years of dedication and hard work, he has reached a respected level of competence and knowledge that is frequently sought by the music industry today. Known for his speaking from the heart interpretations of music and being able to put it in layman’s terms for music fans, his work is found everywhere in cyberspace and in traditional print media, from press kits to quotes from reviews in magazine advertisements.