1/5
Music to Paint By is a four disc set of albums. Each album has its own subtitle: Splash, Brushstrokes, Electric Blue and Still Life. Distributed by an imprint of Christian label Word, the albums are recorded, engineered and produced by Keaggy and he really needed someone else to be more involved. There is perhaps an album’s worth of good material that deserves salvaging. Word records would later reduce the set down into 2 CDs of material (with bonus tracks) as 2001’s Cinemascapes and In the Quiet Hours.
Electric Blue is the weakest record of the series. A jazz rock, blues record that’s too derivative and cheesy. Keaggy used a midi to sample horns and strings on the record to ill effect. The album is also filled with bad percussion and the elements aren’t mixed together very well. “Paintin’ the Town,” is a slow blues number that feels ripped from an 80s Noir revival crime drama. “Acadenia” is the standout track. The second half of the record falls back into jazz fusion and smooth jazz. Electric Blue is just cringy. Tied with Splash for Keaggy’s worst Allmusic Guide review at 1.5/5.
Keaggy rereleased Electric Blue on his Bandcamp with a couple of bonus tracks in 2019.