CD reviews for June 12: Linkin Park, "Meteora"; John Mayer, "Any Given Thursday"; Blue Man Group, "The Complex"; Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Fever to Tell"; Al Stewart, "Down in the Cellar"; Joe Hand

"Everything and Nothing"
By David M. Meyers/Enterprise music critic

Joe Hand
'Everything and Nothing'
www.joehand.com

Finally, some positive motivation...

Joe simply is the best, and it's high time that everyone just figured this out.

Whenever I'm asked to name the best producer in the business, I say Joe. When I'm asked who the best bass player is ... again, Joe. Need a pianist, guitarist, drummer, sax player, singer, arranger, composer, or really great laugh with a really great individual?

Find Joe.

While at the Berklee College of Music, he picked up the nickname of Joe "where are you going with that gun in your" Hand after the Jimi Hendrix tune. And while that didn't quite stick (you try sending an e-mail with that as part of the subject), Joe has stretched his musical boundaries once again with his latest CD.

"Everything and Nothing" can be found in the Christian stacks, and while the CD has a distinct spiritual bent, the musical quality of its 10 tracks transcends any pigeonholes one may be prematurely quick to use.

Joe spends much of his non-touring time these days in Nashville, where he somehow has managed to harness all its musical energy without succumbing to the glitzy twang that befalls so many in Music City.

So, enough reading already: Go get this CD ... and tell him I said hey.