Arroyo’s debut CD solid, unspectacular

Apparently, Boston Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo can pick a guitar at least as well as he can pitch a baseball.

Yeah, yours truly was one of the doubters. As a matter of fact, after getting his latest CD (“Covering the Bases”) for a possible review, it wasn’t something earmarked for immediate action. In fact, it was pushed to the posterior end of the pile.

Sorry, Bronson. Chalk it all up as another lesson learned about assumptions. It turns out some athletes can play very well on and off the field – although one can argue that his performance on this CD mirrors his efforts on the mound the last two seasons: Solid, but not outstanding.

Much like his 2005 season stats (14-10, 4.51 ERA, 205 innings), Arroyo’s debut CD is better than average, but there’s nothing original or new here.

He pays homage – with interest – to groups such as Pearl Jam, Goo Goo Dolls, Foo Fighters, and Stone Temple Pilots. His gravelly baritone voice eerily echoes that of Eddie Vedder’s, but as good as it is, especially combined with impressive guitar skills he’s cultivated since first starting to play in 1999, you have to wonder how good the 27-year-old righthander would be with his own material.

The CD has been the top-selling CD in Boston, Springfield (Mass.), and Providence (R.I.) and No. 2 in Portland, according to publicity firm Rogers & Cowan.

Arroyo’s not the only Red Sox devotee to spend time in a recording studio the last few months.

Rockland resident Eric Wass (lead guitar and backup vocals) and five of his friends have released “Red Sox Family,” a nine-song CD which has been two years in the making.

Wass is joined by lead vocalists Shawn McCorrison (rhythm guitar) and Mary Johnson, keyboardist Chris Grade, bassist Harley Colwell and drummer Chris Cokinis.

Some of the tracks include “Red Sox Man, Fenway Girl, Red Sox Fever” and “We Are the Nation” and range from rock to rhythm and blues.

The CD is available for purchase at all Maritime Farms convenience store locations and online at www.klarity.com for $15 each.

Sox can’t freeze out Bruins

Apparently absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

After an 18-month layoff, New England hockey fans showed how much they missed their Boston Bruins in the ratings as New England Sports Network’s telecast of the Bruins’ season-opening game against Montreal achieved a 2.9 household rating in the Boston DMA (designated market area) Wednesday, Oct. 5.

Despite going head to head with a Boston Red Sox playoff game against the Chicago White Sox, the Bruins game’s rating was more than double that of NESN’s 2003-04 season-opener and 21 percent higher than NESN’s 2003-04 full season, per-game average.

Of course, the overall numbers comparison still gives the Red Sox an overwhelming advantage as the Sox had a combined rating of 33.7 on Boston’s Channel 5 and ESPN Wednesday night.

In the Providence, R.I., DMA, the Bruins telecast drew a 2.2 household rating, 120 percent better than the 2003-04 season-opener and 38 percent better than the 2003-04 full season average.

A household rating is the percentage of total households in the market turned to a specific program.

Buying the City

Fans having trouble finding a DVD copy of “City of Champions: The Best of Boston Sports” can order it directly from the producer, Rabid Films, by calling 1-877-GO BOSTON (1-877-462-6786) or online at www.cityofchampionsdvd.com. Suggested retail price for the 108-minute video chronicling the greatest sports moments and figures in New England sports is $24.98.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net