Tampa Weekly Planet:6/02/05
Sarasota Weekly Planet: 6/09/05

CD REVIEW by: Mark Sanders

Timeline Fremont John Okay, a show of hands - how many of you would quit your day job as an oil industry higher-up to play guitar and sing in Key West bars? Not too many, I assume, which makes Fremont John Ashton's story all the more intriguing. This guy has led an enviable double life as entrepreneur and musician, ostensibly using one to justify the other; and as of recently, he became a full-time Sarasota resident. Timeline, 12 songs culled over the past few years of gigging by himself and with his former classic rock outfit Alias, is a rare find among local CDs. First, the execution is top notch - Ashton must've spent a small fortune hiring crack session musicians and backup singers - and second, the songwriting is both expansive and experienced, neither relying solely on hackneyed rock chord progressions (the fate of many an older performing songwriter) nor alienating audiences by being too deep for its own good. While some songs occasionally invite comparisons to '70s prog rock, Timeline overflows with enough consistent, melodic riffs and rhythms to make you wonder why Fremont John didn't instead call the album Timeless.

Here's the musician roster for TIMELINE:

* Richard Crooks - drums and percussion (Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Dr. John)

* Fernando Saunders - bass (Pat Benatar, Jeff Beck, Lou Reed) http://www.fernandosaunders.com

* Charlie Giordano - keys (Pat Benatar, Joe Cocker, Hall & Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Sheryl Crow)

* Larry Baeder - electric guitars and producer (Carly Simon, Chuck Jackson, Jay McShann, Temptations)

* Crispin Cioe - saxes (Rolling Stones, James Brown, Joe Cocker) http://www.crispinmusic.com

* Sherryl Marshall - backing vocals (Bruce Springsteen, Buster Poindexter)

* Lisa Lowell - backing vocals (Bruce Springsteen, Buster Poindexter) http://www.lisalowell.com

* "Purple" Pam Shelby - vocal scat on "Jericho's Wall"

* Fremont John - lead vocals, acoustic guitars, songwriter