“Unbecoming” is the latest EP from unsung guitar hero Dallas Perkins. In a world filled with limitless “shredders” who do nothing but jaunt up and down the fretboard for sixty minutes, press it onto a record, and call it a day, Perkins is a breath of fresh air; this American guitarist knows how to balance feverish fretplay with the simple nature of good ol’ Hard Rock. Throw in the engineering and production of the legendary Neil Citron (known for his work with Steve Vai and Steve Lukather), and you’ve got one hot record. 

Like Austrian guitarist Milan Polak, Perkins has fused his virtuoso guitar skills with some quite excellent songwriting, resulting in four very polished tracks. What’s more, each one is completely different from the rest; on an EP, one can’t afford to have any “clones” or “filler.” The first track, “Taken Alive,” is a pounding, aggressive little song, and it leaves a mighty first impression. Perkins’ voice is raw and powerful, but he also has great range, and he makes good use of it on “Taken Alive”; the virtuoso musicianship and the soulful Rock voice evoke the legendary John Sykes at times. The next track, “Get It Right,” is a complete departure from the pounding rhythms of “Taken Alive”; it’s very low-key and funky, with kind of a RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS vibe. However, rougher parts and succulent solos help to make it sound like 100% Dallas Perkins. It’s probably the best track on the EP, as it’s completely unique and just sounds genuinely cool.

“Kurukshetra” is the only misstep on the EP, and it’s not even so much a misstep, but rather an okay song that just doesn’t measure up to the impeccable quality of the other three tracks. It’s another aggressive rocker, but it lacks the intensity and power of “Taken Alive,” or even “Indivisible,” the final song on the album. “Indivisible” is everything that “Kurukshetra” should’ve been, with pounding drums in the verses and soaring vocals in the choruses. It’s a well-written Rock song that shows an effective balance between heaviness and catchiness. 

After listening to “Unbecoming,” I can’t wait for Perkins to release his next full length. “Unbecoming” is a solid EP which will delight fans of both ‘80s guitar virtuosity and 21^st century economy; Perkins has an ear for knowing when to shred and when not to shred. It’s all about balance, and Perkins seems to have mastered the concept.

(Online April 28, 2008)