Vinny St. Marten (http://www.vinnystmarten.com) is not so much a songwriter as a storyteller. And the tales that Marten weaves on this three-track EP, "Blindness Is a State of Mind," are taken from his own life, each with a personal yet universal message that touches the heart. The simplicity of Marten's narratives is its greatest tool; ironically enough, the vivid images on display here are painted by a blind man. Marten doesn't need eyes to see; he already sees with his soul and is able to convey those pictures to us with rich details that people who do have sight often overlook.
The tender duet "Please Let Me Be Your Eyes" is about achieving higher love, when two hearts can find their mutual affection reflected into each other. It's an Adult Contemporary classic brimming with the longing of the blues. The call-and-response singing between Marten and Elysa Sunshine is so moving that I nearly found myself in tears. Their voices are simply angelic together.
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"Think About It (Roy's Song)," on the other hand, is something completely different, a stinging story of racism from a unique perspective, that of a young boy without vision, whose inability to see color (or anything at all) makes the idea of racial prejudice seem utterly alien. "Think About It" is mostly spoken word until Marten lets his deep voice loose, an exhilarating moment that'll create chills down your spine.
On the closing number, "16 Grove Street," Marten introduces us to his family in a bittersweet slice-of-life piece that again features Sunshine in extraordinary vocal back-up. Every cut is given a prologue by Marten, giving the CD the feel of a novel. I look forward to the rest of the chapters.
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