The Traveler Reviews
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September 2009
Artist: Richard Frankz
Title: The Traveler
Website: http://www.RichardFrankz.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/RichardFrankz
Style: Indie
 By Staff Writer L. Anne Carrington
With his newest release, The Traveler, Richard Frankz gives listeners the impression that he can fit into just about any genre with little or no difficulty. Frankz's music is a blend of rock, country, and sometimes a bit of pop, but it certainly isn't dull.
Frankz will occasionally take on one genre, one example being "One Step Forward," is very much country, but for the most part he is less concerned with being pigeonholed into one category of music than he is with simply writing and performing quality songs that all can enjoy.
Frankz is a solid songwriter and The Traveler is a stellar CD packed with journeyman type songs. "Just Being Me" and "Just Spending Time (With You)" are outstanding tracks Then there's the pop side of Frankz, which is shown on "I Could Never Fall."
However, as a lyricist, there's a generous sense of independence alongside a too-generous reversion to clichés, especially with metaphor attempts in songs like "Midwestern Skies."
In whole, even with its very few weaknesses, this CD is quite listenable, one of those that allow anti-country listeners to begin to think outside of the box.
The Traveler is an album that fans of older country stars and just plain good songwriting and performing will both take notice and certainly enjoy; it is rare in today's music market to hear this style of music with such good quality.
Reviews
Artist: Richard Frankz
Title: The Traveler
Label: RFM
Written by Joe Hartlaub
Richard Frankz is of indeterminate age, one of those guys who has aged gracefully and with weathered grace. He is probably better known to musicians than to the public at large, a state of affairs that is hard to understand and which his latest release, THE TRAVELER, may go a long way toward correcting.
Frankz in some ways bears a physical resemblance to the late Charlie Rich with a just-back-from-the-barber look, and that is not the only similarity. Frankz, like Rich, is possessed of a warm, comfortable voice that gently wraps around you. A great deal of his songs are written and performed around the keyboard, particularly the piano, which was Rich’s main instrument as well. There are times, particularly on “Just Being Me” and “Midwestern Skies,” where Frankz almost seems to be channeling Rich. What is interesting here is that Frankz is not slavishly imitating Rich, or anyone (though he comes perilously close to doing a Jerry Lee Lewis on “Just Being Me”). I say this because Frankz has the uncanny --- and rare --- ability to walk the fine line between country and jazz. Take “Just Spending Time (With You)” which defies easy categorization into either genre. And while “Way Back Home (To You)” treads into the gentler boundaries of southern rock, it could be just about anything.20And Frankz gives one the impression, after listening to THE TRAVELER, that he could slide easily and comfortably into just about any genre. He is less a flashy, ostentatious car and more a well-tuned, reliable engine: he won’t go from zero to eighty in four seconds, but he starts every time and will get you where you are going. Frankz will occasionally take a full fledged genre tune straight on --- “One Step Forward,” for example, is one hundred percent country --- but for the most part he is less concerned with classifications than he is with simply writing and performing a good song.
Frankz, on “My Someday,” talks about how he “suffer(s) with pain/from an unsorted past,” and the understated anguish with which he infuses that tune is as straightforward and sincere as anything you might have heard recently. While he may never be a superstar, one cannot take from Frankz that he is a superb journeyman who is a reliable craftsman. And THE TRAVELER contains fourteen examples of his best work.
August 2008
Posted on 08.26.08 by Jason Thompson @ 12:00 am
Richard Frankz explodes out of your stereo with his good-time honky tonk/blues-country cookin’! It’s true, people. Frankz is a solid songwriter and The Traveler is a fine CD packed with journeyman type songs. “Just Being Me” swings with steady assurance with tight production and rock solid playing by Frankz’ band. “More Each Day” has a smooth kind of ’70s professionalism to it, while the same rings true for “Just Spending Time (With You).” Then there’s the pop side of Frankz, which is best experienced on a track like “I Could Never Fall” that sounds like something Chicago might have done when Terry Kath was still alive. Good stuff, indeed. “Southern Summer Nights” recalls Little River Band as well as Glen Campbell. And on “One Step Forward” Richard Frankz shows off his abilities at melding country and bluegrass with much panache. The Traveler is certainly a rock-solid album that fans of older country stars and just plain good songwriting and performing will like. It’s certainly nice to hear this style of music at this quality being made today. (Richard Frankz Music)
Richard Frankz’ MySpace page.
Filed under: Pop and Country and CD Reviews and Artists and Blues and CD QuickTakes
 RICHARD FRANKZ
The Traveler
Richard Frankz Music 2008
www.richardfrankz.com
Genre
Alt-country / Southern rock / blues
The Good
"Just Bring Me" starts off with a catchy piano groove that is accented by some brief spoken vocals. Yeah, it's sounds a little like Walker Texas Ranger, but once the track gets moving, the melodic vibe takes over. "The Traveler" seems more of a diary of Frankz life on the road. It's a piano driven ballad with lots of emotion. "Midwestern Skies" displays some great slide guitar and vocal melodies. "Just Spending Time (With You)" is a touching ballad that's sure to bring a tear to any divorced father's eye. "One Step Forward" brings the country feel to the plate with some hard driving banjo (if there is such a term). The dual vocal harmonies add texture to the chorus. "I Ask (Amanda)" has Frankz dealing with his daughter going out on her own. Funky guitar riffs help set the warm feel of "Southern Summer Nights." It's more of a memory than a current experience.
The Bad
Nothing notable
The Verdict
Family, friends, music, life on the road, love, regret, and personal conflicts are clearly what's important to Richard Frankz on his latest album The Traveler. Frankz sets his feelings to some rocking alternative country grooves as well as tender and emotion grabbing piano. Frankz has been around a bit, but he knows what he's talking about.
Rating:  out of 5
--George Dionne
July 16, 2008
Music Review
Band: RICHARD FRANKZ
Album: The Traveler
Label: RFM
Richard Frankz has quietly been making a name for himself through his songs appearing on Paul Loveless’ CDX compilations, an appearance on the CCMA awards, etc… After his two previous albums gained him some attention, he has returned with his third effort, “The Traveler.” Frankz is no stranger to true rock-n-roll but has taken to fusing in some modern era country into the mix all wrapped together with a dusty honky-tonk feel as is displayed right from the get go with album opener “Just Being Me.” Frankz continues to display a honky-tonk/rock-n-roll style as you dive into the album on tracks like “One Step Forward.” However, a majority of the album focuses on his ability to craft a well-written ballad that seems to be Frankz forte. Your first introduction to his ballads is with the title track to the album as the piano brings you into the song and his vocal, which for some reason often reminds me of Jimmy Buffet, carries the song while the music takes a bit of a backseat. The ballads like “Just Spending Time(With You),” show Frankz ability to tug at your heart with a lyric that focuses on a single dad’s relationship with his child. Though a style like this, which combines 60’s styled rock-n-roll with a bit of a country influence isn’t really mainstream these days, Frankz is onto something unique with his style and is well worth giving a listen to.
June 10, 2008
Richard Frankz - The Traveler
 The wonderful thing about writing reviews for Skope is that you really have no idea what genre you may get to review. The minute I put on this CD by Richard Frankz I knew that this had to be a country/pop/rock album. I am totally cool with that!
First off I must add that the packaging on this CD is incredibly professional. In this day of I-Tunes it is good to see that musicians like Frankz still respect the CD as a package and take the time to have great pictures, lyrics, and a total package. I enjoyed going through the booklet as I listened to the CD. This is truly an album.
It has been two years since Frankz has released a CD. In 2006 he released, ‘Point Of View’ which garnered great acclaim on the radio and indie scene. Frankz was born in Pittsburgh but he was raised in a foster home in Savannah, GA. It was there that he fell in love with both rock and country music. Nowadays he lives in Milan, IL but you can still hear his southern roots in his songs. Frankz has said, “I was blessed at an early age with the gift of music, and for that I am grateful.”
This CD starts off with a bang with the track, “Just Being Me.” Besides being incredibly catchy this track lets the people know that this man is doing music his own way and he does not care what others think about it!
Anyone that has read past reviews of mine knows I like to break down a CD into three categories. First off is sound quality. This CD is as well produced as any other out there. A song that sounds exceptional is track 7, “One Step Forward.” I like that song also because the message can be related to my life as well.
Next up are tracks that I would push as a single. This was an easy one as I chose track one, “Just Being Me.” That song is catchy, upbeat, and makes you feel good.
Finally is depth of songwriting. Frankz nails it in this. His track, “I Ask (Amanda)” is simply beautiful. This track is about his daughter and as someone who is about to have a baby next year, I love it! Another song that hit home with me is, “Time Of Our Live.” This song is about catching up with old friends amidst our busy lives. I feel like that with my college boys for sure!
Richard Frankz has a great CD on his hands. Country and rock fans rejoice and enjoy this CD!
Review By: Mikey Frieds
www.richardfrankz.com
Rating:  
June 2008
Richard Frankz – The Traveler
Richard Frankz – The Traveler / 2008 Self / 14 Tracks / www.richardfrankz.com /
“Just Being Me” is the first track on “The Traveler”, and the song is the perfect introduction to a singer that blends a contemporary sound with a late eighties / early nineties type of country music. Frankz goes into a slower, more sorrowful sound for the disc’s second (and title) track. The narrative style of Frankz is easily the equivalent to a Kenny Rogers, and the narrative present during this track has parallels to Rogers’ biggest hit, “The Gambler”. In much the same way as “Just Being Me”, there is a linking of older and newer styles, ensuring that listeners from a number of different genres and styles will find something that they can appreciate in Frankz’s music.
“More Each Day” varies Frankz’s style up with the inclusion of a funky, seventies type of sound – while there are hints of country that are still present during “More Each Day”, the track could easily be Frankz’s crossover hit. The track will appeal to musicophiles through the inclusion of guitars that will make individuals believe that Glenn Frey is actually playing on the track. “Just Spending Time (With You)” goes back to the approach first broached during “The Traveler”. However, the heart-wrenching emotions present during “Just Spending Time” will firmly cement this track in the pantheon of sad country tracks. Frankz succeeds with “Just Spending Time” in creating happiness that is paired with the sadness on the track, showing the duality of life.
The intricate, Eagles-like guitars come back during “Way Back Home (To You)”. Stepping up to the challenge put forth with the guitars, Frankz’s vocal delivery uses uncommon pacing and different time signatures to really make the track into something that is memorable. Where “More Each Day” would likely be Frankz’s crossover hit, I could see “Way Back Home (To You)” being the track that firmly installs itself at the top of the country chart. Unlike a number of artists and bands, who are apt to just let the quality of the disc decline as the album spins on, later efforts by Frankz are just as strong as those opening salvos. This means that the walking bass line of “One Step Forward”, coupled with the higher register presented by the stringed instrument, makes for yet another single-worthy track for Frankz. If individuals like their country music to challenge the assumptions that individuals have regarding the genre, I would strongly exhort them to pick up a copy of “The Traveler”.
Top Tracks: Still Loving Me, One Step Forward
March 2008
PATHFINDER MAGAZINE by John (J.W.) Brookfield
THE TRAVELER
" I had the pleasure of reviewing Richard's last album "Point of View" and also take pleasure in doing this album. richard is a very prolific talented Singer/Songwriter, as you may know if you get to listen to HotDisc. The whole of this CD are of a very high standard with first class, and as you would expect, are all penned by Richard. There is a good mix of material to stop it getting repetitive. But, after a few listens, the numbers I pick out are the up tempo "Just Being Me" closely followed by Southern Summer Nights, Still Loving Me and My Someday, finishing out the album with a superb "Time of Our Lives". To find out more about Richard, try going to his website www.RichardFrankz.com. His biography is well worth reading. Thanks Richard for this CD.
Yours in Country,
J.W. and J.A.
January 2008
RICHARD FRANKZ
THE TRAVELER
www.richardfrankz.com
In country music culture terms, it doesn’t come any more innovative and progressive than this country-jazz troubadour from Illinois. Despite the genre complexity, Richard’s autobiographical poetry-and-music can appeal to the man-on-the-street or the man-in-the-field who aspires to an acquired higher taste . Direct and simple, his artistic secret and challenge is keeping things so to what the ordinary guy can understand and digest. His style-of-music is a rebel, a non-conformist, an original, one who prefers to do his own thing. Yep! This is an electrified mix: less fashionable in chart terms but very listenable to the discerning hearer! The slick production provides country ‘rock and roots’ and deserves some praise. Admirably, all of the repertoire was composed by Richard and performed with clear gentle-passion, on occasions introspective but always penetrating. Watch out for this!
PAUL DAVIS
www.pauldavisauthor.com www.newchristianmusic.co.uk www.ncmradioshow.com
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