Melodic rock/AOR Frontiers Records will release the self-titled debut album from Scandinavia’s The Magnificent on November 4th in Europe and November 1st in North America. The Magnificent is an alliance forged by Circus Maximus singer Michael Eriksen from Norway and Finnish producer/guitarist Torsti Spoof (of Leverage fame). The rest of the band includes Rolf Pilve on drums, Sami Norbacka on bass and Jukka Karinen on keyboards. Collectively, they bring a dazzling blend of melodic and prog rock that works better than most bands trying to mesh these genres together.
Regarding the project, Torsti Spoof had this to say: “A lot of my musical influences come from the 80`s and I always wanted to make an album in that spirit. Now the dream has come true! This one was truly a joyride…I think together we`ve made a perfect blend of the old school songwriting with a big up to date sound”.
The record is equally heavy with keyboards and guitars, recalling the “Out Of This World” days of Europe. However, there is a lot of bite in the riffs and contemporary songwriting more along the lines of Eclipse or Brother Firetribe. The vocals are nothing short of amazing. AOR fans are sure to love this one from start to finish, but I find the more melodic numbers most satisfying, especially “Memories”, “Angel”, “Love’s On The Line”, and “Lost”.
Melodic rock/AOR The teaming up of Bobby Kimball (Toto) and Jimi Jamison (Survivor) promises to be one of the most discussed alliances in the AOR world. Their debut record, simply entitled “Kimball Jamison” comes out on Frontier Records October 18.
Fans expecting the classic 80s AOR sound epitomized by their home bands are going to be in for a surprise. The big melodic choruses and lyrical content have been conserved, but the music has been catapulted into the modern age. The guitars sound fresh and gritty, constituting some of the hardest edge rock either of these guys has ever been associated with in the past. In my opinion, the results are fantastic and give this project a unique identity to call its own, rather than a strict mash up of the styles of Toto and Survivor.
Of course we are dealing with two titans in the vocal arena – Kimball and Jamison sound absolutely amazing, and take turns at lyrical lines in nearly every song making it a true 50/50 split of talent. Even better, most of song were written to contain a few sweet spots where Kimball or Jamison can really hold that high note and shine. For this we can thank ace songwriters such as Richard Page (Mr Mister), Jim Peterik (Survivor), Randy Goodrum (Steve Perry, Toto), John Waite, Erik Martensson (W.E.T.) and Robert Sall (Work of Art).
The guys come out with both guns blazing on “Worth Fighting For”, where loud guitars enhanced by keyboards drive a thundering song that wonders about whether we found that special someone (a sequel to “Is This Love”, perhaps?). Followed by the aggressive “Can’t Wait For Love” (video below), we have a superb introduction to what Kimball Jamison is all about. This is the kind of song I bet Survivor fans were hoping for on their last album “Reach”. Fans of either singer should be smiling ear to ear by now, but there are more gems to follow. While each song has its moments, the ones that really stand out for me include the mid-tempo treat laced with great backing vocals, “I Did Everything Wrong”, “We Gotta Believe”, and the majestic power ballad “Find Another Way”. But perhaps the best here is the encouragement anthem “Get Back In The Game” – this splendid rocker should find a home on the “Rocky VII” soundtrack.
I hope this is not a one-off record. The chemistry between Kimball and Jamison, coupled with their instincts for potent melodies and their sheer vocal power, makes the pair an unbeatable melodic rock dream team.
Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.
MiniReview House of Lords “Big Money” - House of Lords debuted in 1989 with the release of the self-titled album, a record which is still regarded as one of the best arena rock releases of the 80s, up there with frontrunners like Whitesnake, Deep Purple, and Van Halen. The band has a varied and spotty catalogue ever since, with frequent lineup changes and oscillating musical styles to match. Some releases are downright catchy arena rock whereas others are less melodious prog rock. This month the band will add “Big Money” to its discography, which feels like a blend of their mixed melodic and prog rock past. The trademark vocals of James Christian sound finer than ever, and he is surrounded by updated guitar sounds and pounding beats. James teamed up again on the songwriting with long-time friend and partner Mark Baker along with the other band members Jimi Bell and BJ Zampa for this release. While “Big Money” rocks through and through, several of the tunes are overly long and burdened with less than compelling riffs. Standouts include “First To Cry”, “The Next Time I Hold You”, “Run For Your Life”, and “Once Twice”. More info on House of Lords can be found here.
Surprise of the week Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars is recording with latest American Idol winner James Durbin. Get the scoop here.
News R.E.M. has broken up. Hard to believe…read about it from the band member’s perspectives here.
New “best of” collection coming from Paul Simon October 24. Details and track listing here.
Get a taste of the Lou Reed and Metallica project, “Lulu” here. It’s only 30 seconds, but confirms my worst fears about this collaboration.
Love this article at Popdose about Survivor’s underrated ballad “Ever Since The World Began” (video below).
INXS have sacked their singer JD Fortune for the second time. Story here.
Where are they now? Colin Hay (Men At Work) released a new video. Check it out here.
Toto collides with Survivor – Kimball Jamison. Debut video!
Random iPOD song of the week Survivor “Ever Since The World Began” from the album “Eye of the Tiger”
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AOR/Melodic Rock Frontiers Records is on a roll finding new melodic rock releases to fill up your end of summer playlists. Work of Art is an AOR outfit from Sweden that had its early origins in 1992 when Herman Furin and Robert Sall met while attending the SÖL school of music. They didn’t acquire a lead singer until 15 years later, but Lars Sarfsund, who sounds quite a bit like Joseph Williams (Toto, Vertigo), proved worth waiting for, and all this time gave the boys the chance to really polish their craft. The debut album was called “Artwork” and earned critical acclaim in the AOR community upon its release in 2008, drawing comparisons to genre icons like Toto, Giant, and Journey.
“In Progress” is the heavily anticipated follow up to their debut, and Work Of Art proves they have plenty of hooks left up their sleeves. As before, Work of Art pulls no stops in trying to dazzle the listener with driving guitar licks and lofty keyboards. Overall, “In Progress” is a dead ringer for 80s-era Europe if you ask me, with a smattering of tasty prog rock thrown in now and then.
“The Rain” is quite the tempest – a stewing pot of sweeping melodies swirled with slick guitar riffs and in-your-face keyboards. “Nature Of The Game” keeps the high octane pace full throttle with another keeper of a chorus. The boys shake the mood up a bit with the mildly darker “Once Again”, but the moody verses lead us to the type of sugary chorus that made Giant so huge. “Never Love Again” is one of my favorites on the CD – upbeat verses propelling you to that rewarding chorus once again, augmented with affable harmonies. Punchier guitar churns “Eye Of The Storm”, but the melody sticks right in your ear the first time – and check out those slicing keyboards in the chorus! You’d think a band that could crank out five consecutive excellent pieces of melodic rock would run out of steam, but not so with Work Of Art. Other highlights include the blistering first single, “The Great Fall”, “Emelie”, and “Castaway”, which features a refreshing acoustic verse that lets Sarfsund really strut his stuff.
If you like big keyboard-rich melodic rock with outstanding vocals, Work of Art is the band for you. You’ll feel like it is 1989 all over again!
Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.
MiniReview
Sebastian Bach “Kicking & Screaming” – The outspoken and always entertaining former Skid Row frontman returns with his latest solo release, “Kicking & Screaming”. As you would expect, there’s no shortage of loud, in-your-face guitar shredding and dazzling solo work. Bach sounds as potent as ever, showing off the full range of his vocal talents through these thirteen tracks, and his lyrics remain sharp. That’s the good news. While “Kicking & Screaming” has plenty of testosterone and muscle, it often lacks the melodic hooks that would make these songs memorable. That is regrettable, because Bach used to write some killer ones. In short, Bach delivers a solid record to pump your fist to, but not much to sing along to. My favorites in the set include “Caught in A Dream”, “As Long As I Got The Music”, and “One Good reason”. Also, don’t miss “I’m Alive” and “Wishin’” – two of the best ballads he’s done as a solo artist – each feature compelling instrumental dynamics and Bach simply nails the vocal.
Surprise of the week Beam me up, Scotty. William Shatner has covered Black Sabbath’s "Iron Man”, one of the tracks from his upcoming album, "Seeking Major Tom”. Give it a listen and read more details here.
News For you “die” hard vinyl fans: now there’s a company called Andvynyly that offers a service to turn your cremated ashes into a record. What song would you like to be? Check it out here.
Julian Lennon to release first album in 13 years (his sixth studio album) this October, called “Everything Changes”. Details here.
Check out this explanation of the famous Guns N' Roses video “November Rain” here.
Some classic Bob Seger is finally coming to iTUNES along with a free EP – check it out here.
Will CDs go the way of the dinosaur within five more years? Here is an opinion.
Deck the halls with Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots)? Yep.
Random iPOD song of the week L.A. Guns – “Never Enough”
Reminder: we’re now on Twitter! Follow us for even more updates, news, and reviews!
Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.
MiniReview
Xorigin “State Of The Art” – Frontiers Records has done a superb job this year keeping the flame of the melodic rock genre alive and well. They’ve put out terrific contemporary AOR records from Toby Hitchcock, Work Of Art, Airrace, and more, and now we have Xorigin to add to that fine collection. Xorigin is influenced by Giant, Toto, Foreigner, and Yes, and features AOR veterans Johannes Stole (vocals, keyboards) and Daniel Palmqvist (guitars, The Murder of My Sweet). Standout tracks include the fighting anthem “Can’t Keep Running”, “Crying For You”, and the harmonious mid-tempo rocker “The One For Me”. “In The Blink Of An Eye” is a grand power ballad in the REO Speedwagon tradition. Very little filler on this one, so be sure to check it out if you miss the 80s melodic rock heyday. More info on the band can be found here.
Surprise of the week
Lou Reed made the guys in Metallica cry. Here’s why.
News
Cruise on over to the web site for The Tonighters and grab three of their EPs for FREE! Masterminded by UK musician Billy Gilbert, the Tonighters incorporates elements from his extensive background in diverse musical areas ranging from power pop to punk. Awesomely catchy pop rock here, with some of my favorites including “Sad Forever” and “Down To One” from “Closet Classics Volume I”, “How Am I Supposed To Let You Go?” from “Closet Classics Volume 2”, and “Finish What You Started” from “Trivia Melodies”. With a total of 10 tracks, you are bound to find something you’ll love.
Get the free downloads here (if all used up, wait until Sept 7).
Both amazing Jellyfish albums are being re-issued on vinyl only – details here.
New CD of Aerosmith rarities coming soon! Track list can be found here.
Producer Jack Douglas says that the new Aerosmith is due May 2012 and will be “nasty and raw” – kind of like those chicken fingers I ordered at Pizzeria Uno. Read about it here.
Next to jump on the covers album bandwagon: Scott Weiland. Details here.
The new Chickenfoot video, for lead single “Bigfoot”
What are the guys from the Replacements doing now? Well, Tommy Stinson just released a new solo record and Paul Westerberg contributed to the latest record by Glen Campbell. Details here.
Random iPOD song of the week
Sinead O’Connor does a brilliantly endearing rendition of this wonderful song originally performed by Elton John. This track appeared on the 1991 Elton John Tribute album, “Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin”
AOR/Melodic Rock Fans of the melodic rock community should be no stranger to the talent of Indiana native Toby Hitchcock, who was one half Pride of Lions (for the uninitiated, Jim Peterik of Survivor fame constituted the other half). Hitchcock has now partnered with another budding AOR legend, Erik Martensson, who wrote, produced, and played on the “Mercury’s Down” album. Hitchcock’s powerhouse vocals are often compared to Bobby Kimball (Toto), Jimi Jamison (Survivor), or Lou Gramm (Foreigner), and are easily the biggest highlight of this release. The combination of his voice with the AOR instincts of Martensson makes for quite the dynamic duo. True to the genre, Hitchcock belts out songs with straightforward lyrics about love and encouragement.
While still maintaining a keen sense of melody, this project is heavier and more guitar-driven than Hitchcock’s previous work. Favorites on this record include the huge anthem “Strong Enough”, “How To Stop”, “I Should Have Said”, and the thunderous “Tear Down The Barricades “. While there are no shortage of jaw-dropping notes that Hitchcock nails, “How To Stop” features some of his most amazing moments. Unlike most AOR records, the album is not plagued by too many slow songs, but there is a monster power ballad in “One Day I’ll Stop Loving You”. The record seems to get heavier towards the end, closing with the blistering rocker that serves as the title track.
“Mercury’s Down” should easily please fans of Pride of Lions, Eclipse, or Journey – it’s a great AOR soundtrack to ease us into autumn.
How many old school rockers remember Airrace? The band formed back in London in 1982 and had a Beau Hill produced debut called “Shaft Of Light” (1984). The record didn’t bring the success it deserved, and it is now respected as an underground classic. Just a teenage guitarist at the time, Laurie Mansworth was able to recruit former Girl singer Phillip Lewis and none other than Jason Bonham on drums.
It took a 25th anniversary reissue of “Shaft Of Light” to reunite the band in 2009, leading to the release of a long awaited sophomore effort. The lineup for “Back To The Start” included Keith Murrrell (vocals), Laurie Mansworth (lead guitars), Simon Dawson (drums), Dean Howard (guitars), David Boyce (bass), and Toby Sadler (keyboards). While some of the personnel have changed, “Back To The Start” makes it clear that Airrace hasn’t lost their knack for crunchy guitars, airy keyboards, and big melodic choruses.
Standout tracks among this particularly strong set of songs include the Journey sounding opener, “Keep On Going”, the ultra catchy “Two Of A Kind”, and the autobiographical title track. Kids who grew up rocking in the 80s won’t want to miss the time capsule in a song, “What More Do You Want From Me”.
While “Back To The Start” teleports you back to the 80s, the record also has a grittier edge to it. Airrace will appeal to fans of Journey, Autograph, and Diving For Pearls. Essential listening for old and new melodic fans.
Melodic rock Has it really been 30 years since Night Ranger first stormed onto the 80s hard rock scene? Best known for their big classic hits such as “Sister Christian”, “When You Close Your Eyes”, and “Don't Tell Me You Love Me”, the band is back to show they can still rock in America. The lineup for the new effort, “Somewhere in California” includes Jack Blades (bass, vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals), Brad Gillis (guitars), Joel Hoekstra (guitars), and Eric Levy (keyboards). It was hard to find a high school dance in the 80s that did not have Night Ranger on the playlist – will any high schools want to play a new Night Ranger track today? Of course not, but this is no fault of the band – they stay true to their 80s sound and avoid catering to today’s musical trends. Fans are going to love the band for this choice.
I have to admit that the lead off track and first single, “Growin' Up In California” left me disappointed. Who needs another song about &!#$#ing California?! The performance is tight, but the lyrics are bland and the melody is tired. “Lay It On Me” brings Night Ranger into 2011, with heavy riffs and modern guitar tones driving the rhythm. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything more memorable about this tune. Things get much better by the third track, the radio-friendly anthem “Bye Bye Baby (Not Tonight)” – the chorus on this one shines and finally reminds us of the band’s gift for melody and harmony. “Follow Your Heart” is an AOR staple as you can judge from the title, and there is a decent song somewhere in this near seven minute labyrinth, but it takes too much effort to find it. “Time Of Our Lives” is the first requisite power ballad – it is beautifully done and grows on you after a couple spins, but doesn’t hold a cigarette lighter to their 80s work.
The second half of the record is a little better by comparison. Sounding like a .38 Special single, “No Time To Lose Ya” is spectacular – one of the catchiest choruses on the record. “Live For Today” is an interesting rocker with psychedelic verses flanking a more orthodox melodic chorus…but at six minutes, it wears out its welcome. The “it ain’t over till the fat lady sings” spirit is captured in the steady rocker “It’s Not Over”, which also features some excellent lead work. “Rock N Roll Tonight” is a rather lame sequel to "(You Can Still) Rock in America", but the album’s closer, “Say it With Love” is compelling. After pseudo rap verses comes a traditional Night Ranger chorus, ending the record on a high note.
“Somewhere in California” will be out June 17 (Frontiers Records).
Hard rock/AOR The Poodles are a hard rock band from Sweden pumping out vintage 80s AOR covered in a modern sheen. The band has achieved some notable accomplishments in their home land since forming in 2005 and even wrote the Official Swedish Theme Song for the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008.
Despite the band’s ridiculous name, The Poodles have bite. Sonically the CD sounds terrific – these guys have taken the glam rock influences they’ve grown up with and infused them with modern guitar tones, so the songs sound less dated. Unfortunately, what they don’t have in abundance are memorable hooks, and sometimes the lead vocals go up into a range that only dogs should be able to hear. I found my mind wandering far too often and had to force myself to pay attention to many of these songs. Some of the exceptions include rockers like “Cuts Like A Knife” and “Bring Back The Night”, and the power ballad “I Believe In You”. I also really enjoyed “Father To A Son”, which is lyrically a cut above the rest and also features a kicking chorus.
The Poodles are not ‘Best In Show’, but some tracks will make you sit at attention. Others will make you roll over and play dead. Throw them a bone if you’re a fan of Motley Crue, Dokken, or Hinder. “Performocracy” arrives May 3 on Frontiers Records.
Hard rock D-list 80s rockers Black ‘N Blue have become a bit of an underground favorite and on May 13 we’ll see their first new album since 1988 arrive on Frontiers Records. Entitled “Hell Yeah”, the record strives to exude the party time atmosphere that summed up 80s melodic rock. The band’s biggest “hit” was “Miss Mystery”, a hugely catchy lost gem in AOR circles. Lead singer Jaime St James (who also fronted Warrant after Jani Lane) reunited the group several years ago to finish material for the long shelved “Hell Yeah”.
“Hell Yeah” doesn’t have anything that matches their favorites from the past. The band has done an admirable job updating their sound, but they left their melodic hooks behind. The album is a failure because there are simply no memorable choruses, even more forgettable verses, limp solo work, and cringe worthy sleaze lyrics. It is a shame these guys could not recapture the magic that produced “Miss Mystery”. Only two tracks come close – the energetic single “Target” and the melodic “So Long”.
But all things considered, “Hell Yeah” should have just been named “Hell”.
Melodic rock/AOR Prime Suspect is the new project stemming from Khymera players Daniele Liverani, Tommy Ermolli and Dario Ciccioni. The experience Liverani has had in prog rock (Empty Tremor) combines with the forces of straight up melodic rock that results in music that should appeal to both groups of fans. At the vocal helm is Olaf Senkbeil from the German band Dreamtide, who often reminds me of Klaus Meine (The Scorpions). In addition, two tracks were penned by acclaimed Swedish songwriter Christian Wolff (On The Rise, Johnny Lima, Mecca) - “What Do You Want?” and “It Could’ve Been You”.
The self-titled record is off to an energetic start with all members realizing their potential on “What Do You Want?” This one is quickly followed with a great one-two punch in the upbeat “I’ll Be Fine” and mid-tempo “Change This World”. Things slow down with “I Never Knew”, which features a dated glistening piano – the first track that leaves me cold. Things pick back up with the bright and punchy “I Would Like To Reach The Sun”, but nothing struck me too much until the fantastic “Deep In My Heart”. “Deep In My Heart” is a perfectly infectious midtempo rocker and a contender for my favorite track on the CD. In short, “Prime Suspect” boasts solid performances all around with some subtle prog rock references, but some of the tunes are not as memorable as the highlights.
“Prime Suspect” is a worthy debut album of European AOR, aimed to please fans of Khymera, Last Autumn’s Dream, or The Scorpions. The record is out now.
Melodic Rock/AOR VEGA is a melodic rock outfit featuring former KICK vocalist Nick Workman and the notable song writing partnership of Tom and James Martin (House of Lords, Ted Poley, Sunstorm to name but a few). Their debut album “Kiss of Life” has been produced by John Greatwood and features 12 slices of AOR that combine the classic 80s styles with more contemporary guitar tones.
Workman has an incredible voice with an amazing range – well suited for the tasks of quality AOR in the grand tradition of Journey. With his dynamic range, I can characterize VEGA as sounding like a hybrid between Judas Priest and Survivor. In fact, on some of the songs, I could swear the guys hacked Jim Peterik’s computer and stole some of his keyboard tones. No matter, what results is a very enjoyable AOR record built for 2011. The first three tracks are among the strongest (“Into The Wild”, “One Of A Kind”, and the title track), introducing us to the best VEGA has to offer right up front. These are huge arena-ready rockers with uplifting vocals and soaring riffs. Additional highlights include “Headlights”, “Stay With Me” and “Wonderland”.
I recommend VEGA for fans of traditional and modern AOR – this band delivers the perfect blend of both. “Kiss Of Life” is available now and VEGA will be on the road in 2011 taking it to the fans live on stage.
September, 1990. The Cold War officially ends, Bush is about to put Iraq in its place, “Ditto” becomes the response to everyone’s “I love you”, and Nelson’s shimmering song, "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection", from their smash hit album “After The Rain”, was at the top of the Billboard music charts. Now, twenty years later, twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson are back on the radar, hoping to create another storm with their Frontiers debut, “Lightning Strikes Twice”.
Nelson was by no means a “one-hit wonder” – three other very successful singles from their triple-platinum debut were all over MTV and radio throughout 1990 and 1991. Their follow-up record, 1995’s “Because They Can” was a solid effort, but the Seattle grunge bands had already ushered in a new era. “Because They Can” didn’t stand a chance and the Nelson brothers went into a tailspin and identity crisis, dabbling in darker concept albums (“Imaginator”), country fried rock (“Brother Harmony”), and even covering their famous father’s tunes from the Golden Era of Rock N Roll (“Like Father, Like Sons”).
Thankfully, despite two decades of waiting, Nelson have gone back to their AOR roots and crafted a record that any fan of “After The Rain” is going to love unconditionally. If giving the fans of your first record what they want is the barometer of success, “Lightning Strikes Twice” is a remarkable achievement. Any fan of music should stand in admiration of the magical harmonies Matthew and Gunnar produce, but this time out the twins put that talent to good use in songs that are just dripping with sugary melodies. The song structures resemble everything fans of AOR – past and present – could possibly want. As soon as you hear the ringing guitars and their trademark “whoa-oh oh oh” harmonies on the opener “Call Me”, you know Nelson is going to deliver on their promise. Their first music video in 15 years was filmed to “You’re All I Need Tonight” (see it below), a slice of pure AOR heaven. For you ballad lovers, there is an epic one that would make even Bon Jovi weak in the knees called “To Get Back To You”, which also features AOR master Steve Lukather (Toto) on guitar. The highlights keep coming with superb cuts like “When You’re Gone”, “Take Me There”, and “Change A Thing”.
As the third generation of Nelsons to have #1 hits, the boys do the family proud with this sensational comeback album. 1990 would have been as good to this record as it was to “After The Rain” – maybe even better. Perhaps the winds of musical change will blow once again at the backs of the Nelson twins. As they sang in 1990, “Only time will tell…”
More good news for Nelson fanatics…Frontiers Records will release two more Nelson albums to in Europe on December 3rd: “Before the Rain”, the demo collection of songs that secured their recording deal with Geffen Records in 1990, and “Perfect Storm – After the Rain World Tour 1991”,a live concert album. A North American release will follow in February 2011, as a complement to the release of “Lightning Strikes Twice”.
After disbanding over sixteen years ago, the original members of Unruly Child have reunited to produce a brand new album entitled “Worlds Collide”. Marcie Michelle Free (vocalist - King Kobra, Signal), Bruce Gowdy (guitarist – Stone Fury, World Trade), Guy Allison (keyboardist – Lodgic, World Trade, Doobie Brothers), Jay Schellen (drummer - Hurricane, World Trade, Asia), and Larry Antonino (bassist - Pablo Cruise). This is the team that crafted the self-titled debut from 1992, which has become an underground classic among fans of melodic hard rock.
The rebirth of Unruly Child in 2010 is going to take a lot of people by surprise. On “Worlds Collide”, the band springs to life with all the excitement and energy of a newborn. The first two tracks did little to excite me, but then “When We Were Young” kicks off a six song string that 1990 radio would have been all over. “When We Were Young” has a nostalgic theme perfect for a reunion of this kind and is surely going to relate to older fans. “Love Is Blind” is another great tune that fuses the classic Unruly Child sound with that of contemporary hard rock, all helped by a huge sing-a-long chorus with great backing vocals – reminds me a lot of the new Foreigner record. “When Worlds Collide” is an engaging tune with interesting time changes and another memorable chorus. Things stay strong as we move into the final stretch of the album with terrific AOR candy like “Read My Mind” (very modern Bon Jovi) and the rugged cry to be forever young in “Neverland”. The first single is “Very First Time” (video below) – an excellent choice with one of the most instantly enjoyable choruses on the album. If power ballads are your thing, there are a couple of winners such as “Tell Another Lie” and “Talk To Me”, the latter featuring one of the more chill-inducing vocal performances by the great Marcie Michelle Free.
Undoubtedly one of the most thrilling comebacks for a melodic hard rock band this year, “Worlds Collide” is essential for new and old fans alike. The band has brought their sound to the 2010s without alienating loyal fans. Don’t miss them if you like Foreigner, Journey, or Bon Jovi.
ISSA is a melodic hard rock band featuring the remarkable vocals of 26 year old Isabell Oversveen, an exceptionally gifted singer from Norway. Producer Ronny Milianowicz (Saint Deamon) is at the helm, and the project features masterful players such as Peter Huss on guitar, Uli Kusch (ex Masterplan, Helloween) on drums, Nobby Noberg on bass and Tim Larsson (Nick Lachey) on keyboards. ISSA is described as “Brother Firetribe meets Treat with tons of melodies, class and attitude”.
ISSA’s debut, “Sign of Angels” is a collection of highly enjoyable modern AOR. Her soaring vocals work well whether she is accompanied by shredding guitars or the sweeping strings of an over-the-top power ballad. The production is incredibly slick, almost to the point where the music sounds like it couldn’t have been performed by mere human beings, and they overdo the orchestral stabs in some places. The songs deliver the stereotypical themes of encouragement, love, and mild angst that you’d expect on an AOR release, but ISSA delivers the messages in style, shrouded in layers of solid hooks and harmonies. Lots of great tracks to choose from, but for me the cream of the crop consist of “I’m Alive” and “Closer”. For those of you who think there is still plenty of room in the world for more power ballads, be sure to check out “Give Me A Sign”, “Unbelievable”, and “It’s Not Me”.
ISSA is like a female-fronted Journey and, for a fan of AOR, I can think of no better compliment. "Sign of Angels" will be released in the US/ Canada on October 12th 2010.
Back from a long hiatus, veteran AOR rockers Terra Nova return with "Come Alive", their fifth album. If you miss the melodic rock of the 80s - guitar-driven with generous keyboards and soaring vocals (not to mention an album cover of geometric shapes and blue hues) - Terra Nova is a band for you. They are huge in Europe and Japan, countries where AOR still appeals to the masses, and their latest release is proclaimed to be a return to their much-beloved 1996 debut album "Livin' It Up".
Growing up on bands like Journey, Night Ranger, and Survivor, I have a soft spot in my heart for high quality AOR. Terra Nova carries on this lost genre into present day, bucking current trends and playing the type of music they love. Fred Hendrix is an enormously talented vocalist custom built for AOR. The opener and title track storms onto the scene with an engaging riff and propelling rhythm. The na-nas and staccato guitar of "Holy Grail" will make a lot of melodic rockers salivate, and "Here Comes The Night" hits all the right buttons for a midtempo ballad. With its "Livin' On A Prayer" baseline, "Who Can You Count On" has a groovy vibe and an even better chorus. "My Own Way" has a bit of an unusual verse, but it leads into one of the catchiest choruses on the record. Finally, if you are a sucker for gushy, over the top piano ballads, be sure to check out "Those Eyes" and "The Final Curtain" - they'd make even Jonathan Cain cry.
Hot new video from Harry Hess is available for your viewing and listening pleasure! Hess is formerly of Harem Scarem, one of the most underrated hard rock bands of all time. The new song, "This City" carries on the melodic rock tradition Harem Scarem fans are sure to love.
His new solo CD, "First Signal" will be released AUGUST 27th (Europe) AND SEPTEMBER 14th (US).
Tony Harnell, best known as the powerhouse vocalist behind hard rock band TNT, is ready to unleash his new solo record called "Round Trip". With his new band, The Mercury Train, Harnell revisits previous material to offer his fans (and hopefully some new ones) a bold, fresh take on his songs. In concept, it is similar to Bon Jovi's "This Left Feels Right", but Harnell makes the effort much more worthwhile.
While stripped down or alternative versions of classic rockers are going to seem sacrilegious to some longtime fans, I feel Harnell has done an amazing job showing us how timeless his songwriting can be. These new renditions are fantastic, bringing even the most dated of his material into the 21st century as if it were written yesterday. His riveting vocals and the brilliantly produced instrumentation are icing on the cake.
Just check out the acoustic-driven sound of "Somebody Told You", "Intuition", and "Lonely Nights" - they blew me away. The tender "Northern Lights" is another outstanding highlight that underscores this man's amazing vocal talent. I also thought his version of the haunting Alanis Morissette track, "Uninvited" was terrific. The bouncy acoustic pop and harmonious "oohs" and "ahhs" make "When I'm Away" another highlight. There are a handful of tracks that are merely interludes, too sleepy ("Ready To Fly"), or just don't quite work ("Satellite"), but generally "Round Trip" is a great, consistent listen from start to finish.
Fans of great acoustic-driven rock are going to love this, whether you have heard of Harnell or not. In fact, it may be an advantage to go into these songs without the bias of the original tainting your opinion. It is a trip you won't want to miss.
iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 12
"Round Trip" will be available on July 27 in the US.
The reunited supergroup Asia (Geoffrey Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, and John Wetton) is back with its follow up to the excellent "Phoenix" (2008). I am a huge fan of their big 80s hits like "Heat Of The Moment", "Only Time Will Tell", and "Don't Cry" and thought that "Phoenix" was a respectable comeback. In my opinion, Asia works best when they temper their prog rock with catchy hooks and radio-friendly songwriting. Unfortunately, this is not the case on their latest, "Omega".
This is not to say that "Omega" is a a total dud, but in general it is pretty dull and unengaging. What saves the record are cuts like the arena ready opener, "Finger On The Trigger", which has just about everything a casual fan of Asia would desire. "I'm Still The Same" is another pop rocker that drills into the mind a lot faster than the other songs on "Omega". There are some additional tracks near the end that (subtly)recall their 80s hey day, with "I Believe" being one of the best uptempo tunes on the record. The CD closes with a decent ballad called "Don't Wanna Lose You Now".
As always, the musicianship and production is top notch, and Asia's lyrics remain more cerebral than your average AOR band. Too bad the songs on "Omega" are not as strong as the players.
