COSMIC ROUGH RIDERS

Lead singers leaving (or being left behind) by their bands is hardly a new phenomenon. Think: Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd. Peter Gabriel and Genesis. Tim Fletcher and the Stills (sort of). David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Gary Cherone, and David Lee Roth (again) with Van Halen.

So it shouldn't have come as a huge shock when Daniel Wylie - lead singer/songwriter for Scottish folk-rockers Cosmic Rough Riders - left the band after their acclaimed first album to pursue his solo aspirations. The Riders' other principal songwriter, Stephen Fleming, quickly stepped into the breach, and the group released their latest disc, Stars Look Different from Down Here, back in July.

There are plenty of people in the world who have never come to grips with the loss of Wylie and long ago gave up on Cosmic Rough Riders. And it's undeniably true that the group's newer material lacks some of the Byrds-ian harmonizing that they were once known for. You can decide for yourself whether this "new" incarnation of a once highly-promising band is worthy of your time and attention.

Visit Cosmic Rough Riders' MySpace page [here].

From the LP Stars Look Different from Down Here, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "When You Come Around"
[MP3] "Don't Get Me Down"

From the LP Enjoy the Melodic Sunshine, 2000 >>>
[MP3] "Revolution (In the Summertime?)"
[MP3] "Baby, You're So Free"

From the LP Deliverance, 1999 >>>
[MP3] "Still a Mother's Son"