THE READY SET

I’m Alive, I’m Dreaming

[Sire/Decaydance]

One-man band albums have been around forever, with folks like Paul McCartney, Dave Edmunds, John Fogerty, Emitt Rhodes and many others concocting some pretty great stuff while holed up alone in the studio. The latest addition to the club is Fort Wayne’s Jordan Witzigreuter. His debut as The Ready Set is an often infectious pop collection that, even though it clocks in at only 26 minutes, packs enough sonic punch to justify repeated listenings. The Ready Set sound is a mass of propulsive beats, percussive keyboards and interweaving vocals that sometimes recall Brian Wilson’s solo work. Witzigreuter sometimes goes overboard on the vocal processing—a shame, as he possesses worthwhile vocal skills, not to mention a considerable gift for vocal counterpoint and harmony. And while there may not be much lyrical depth here, there’s enough purely musical talent on display to suggest that a pop masterpiece could lie in the Ready Set’s future. –BC