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Here we have a new Canadian female fronted band that recently released their debut album which goes in the same vein as Evanescence.
"What Lies Beneath" doesn?t have the same commercial touch as Evanescence debut album "Fallen" had.
Soundwise they have lot in common but it?s not as powerful and they don?t have so strong material,the production is handled by Tim Neuhaus and it?s OK with a modern touch over it.
The first song on the album is also the first single called "I Stay" and it?s a powerful song with strong melodies and also the highlight of the album.
Too bad that the rest of the album aint as good,they have lost the sense of good melodies on a few songs that doesn?t have that extra touch needed.
Damsel Fly has recorded an average female-fronted melodic rock album that will not reach higher grounds. Maybe the next album will catch my attention. |
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| If you take Counting Crows sort of American radio-rock and picks in a little Maroon 5 groove (and even a little bit of Daniel Lemma which is a Swedish artist no one outside of Sweden heard of probably) then you have this disc´s sound pretty clear to you. Harmless, but also rather uninteresting. Music that goes into one ear and out the other. I can not say it´s bad because then I lied, but nah, there are much better CD´s in the genre. |
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| The voice from Semisonic Dan Wilson released his first solo album "Free Life" on October 16, 2007 on American Recordings. Like Luna Halo, which was on the same label, I thought their albums would not come out, since Rick Rubin went to Columbia that same year. But Dan released his album and even if it did not happen all that much so it was still a solid effort from this talented songwriter. This double album Live at the Pantages was recorded at Minneapolis´ Pantages Theater on December 13, 2008 and is newly released and can only be purchased on his website (www.danwilsonmusic.com). The first disc is a acoustic experience while disk two is more upbeat with a full band. Since I am a fan of good live album and Semisonic, I am very grateful for this generous collection that just costs 15$. Likes the splitting into two disks with multiple faces for different moods and moments. Are equally happy for the live image with Dan creates beautifully between talk and stories that really must recommend this musical journey. A given purchase if you like what he has done before! |
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Melodic rock/Aor is on the rise here in Sweden and many new bands are on the way with albums. Danger Avenue is a 5-piece band from Gothenburg and this is their 5-track debut EP. These guys look like a Westcoast band from the early 80s with white jackets and has a cool look.
The cd-cover is also great and takes you back to the 80s. They say that their influences are Thin Lizzy, Bruce Springsteen, Kiss, Journey and The Who.
Sure there are some traces of those bands but I think they sound more like late 70s / early 80s melodic rock/AOR like Eric Martin Band mixed with some traces of REO Speedwagon. The sound is not as classic as those bands but they have quality for sure and the twin guitars gives this album a heavier sound. The opening track West Coast Angel is a damn fine AOR-rocker with cool keyboards, catchy hooklines and a brilliant chorus that reminds of Eric Martin back in the early 80s.
The Distance has a Thin Lizzy feel over the songs. Boarding Pass an acoustic song with nice melodies a´la REO Speedwagon. Beat The Night is a good up-tempo guitar rocker that yet again reminds of Eric Martin Band.
Avenues & Boulevards ends this EP in a great way because this is a melodic filled AOR-rocker with a strong chorus. The singer Jimmie Lee Cooper has a strong and great rock voice and the harmony vocals on the album is good too. Rest of the band is Thomas Van Shaw (guitars), Victor DiCola (guitars), Criss David (drums) and Viktor O´Malley (bass). The production is more than good with an early 80s feel over it and I think it sounds nice. If the full-length album holds songs in the same quality as West Coast Angel then we will have new AOR sensation from Sweden. This is good and promises more in the future. First we got Heat, then Elevener and now we can count Danger Avenue as strong AOR bands from Sweden and more will come so keep your eyes open for a band called EYE. |
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| Finally Danger Danger is back with a brand new studio album and with Ted Poley on vocals. I still remember 1989 when I first heard Under The Gun that hit me hard and blew me away. Since then I been following this band. They have always delivered good albums except for the darker Dawn album that I don’t think can be counted as a DD album. In 1991 DD released Screw It and after that Ted Poley parted ways with the band and solo artist Paul Laine stepped in and did 3 albums with DD. So now 18 years later since the last album with Ted Poley, the guys are back together and has released a fantastic album. This is a typical DD sounding album with a little updated sound and what I like more with this album is the keyboards that lies in the background that gives it a great melodic sound. Bruno Ravel and Co has come up with a strong album filled with catchy hook laden songs and Ted Poley sounds better and stronger than ever. He has a voice that is made for the DD sound even if Paul Laine did a great work on the albums he sang on, I think Ted is the man for it. Rob Marchello is a fantastic guitarist and he pulls out some impressive riffs through out the whole album. Just listen to the opening track That’s What I’m Talking About and you know that the guys are back in business. This is an awesome rocker with all the right DD trademarks. The chorus is catchy with brilliant harmonies and it’s filled with outstanding melodies and you get some Whoa-oh´s aswell. Ghost Of Love is stunning song and you don’t come much closer to the classic sound of the debut than this. Ted sings outstanding on this one. Killin´ Love is a winner with a brilliant chorus with fantastic melodies and the harmonies are superb. Hearts On The Highway is another song that reminds of the debut with an amazing catchy chorus with powerful background vocals and I’m sitting with a smile on my face. This is classy stuff. Fugitive is an acoustic ballad that gives you a chance to breath after the amazing start. A nice ballad nothing more. After that the album rocks again. The great guitar rocker Keep On Keepin´ On is filled with great hooks and a sing-a-long chorus. Rocket To Your Heart has a modern touch that reminds of their two previous albums. F.U.S is a huge rocker with a powerful chorus, great rocker with a Def Leppard harmonies. Bruno Ravel and Co has come up with a strong comeback album and its 20 years since the classic debut was released. It’s not as good as the debut but I hold this as their 2nd best album so far. Welcome back guys and you´ve been wanted. So don’t hesitate to grab a copy of their fantastic new album because it’s a damn fine album. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the production is brilliant. |
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| Lucky enough I didn´t sum the musicyear 2008 too early cuz there are a few albums that have come to my mind lately that will enter the top 20, and here is one of them. And when it comes to this one we´re talking high up on the list. Danger Radio plays a fantastic sort of groovy, joyfilled modern pop with influences of everything. Spymob, It Bites, Maroon 5, old westcoast, soft modern rock, Nuclear Valdez and hell know whatelse... The answer of this weird combionation of styles is the mix of nationalities in the band...Puerto Rico native Andrew de Torres (vocals) and Finland native Nico Hartikainen (drums, programming) met in 1999 while attending middle school in Everett, Washington, a city located just north of Seattle. And what I also know is that it is a fantastic mix and this years best song is on this album. It´s called "One More Chance" and well... take a listen yourself. The coolest CD of the year. |
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| Nothing else sounds like Danger Radio. Their genre of music is somewhere between fusion, soul, modern pop and hell know whatelse. I LOVE their debut fullength that came out earlier this year and this - their debut EP is also a damn fine moment of music. Being from Puerto Rico and Finland, singer Andrew De Torres and drummer/programming whiz Nico Hartikainen first landed in each other´s world around 1999, during middle school in the Seattle suburbs and the pair looped in De Torres´ friend and Idaho native Marvin Kunkel, and planted the seeds for what would eventually morph into Danger Radio. And I can´t say nothing more than that they are one of the coolest band this earth has to offer. |
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Line Of Fire is a never released album from the Italian rockers Danger Zone, recorded in 1989 and produced by Jody Gray and Mark Cobrin of Loudness and EZO fame. This is a good 80s hardrock album in the same vein as Dokken, Icon and China (their debut album). Their singer Giacomo Gigantelli has a hoarse and powerful voice and suits to the sound just perfect, reminds little of Paul Sabu.
The album opens up with the fantastic Line Of Fire with stunning guitars and keyboards and with a huge chorus. Walk Away is an OK AOR-ballad. State Of The Heart is a huge arena rocker with great hooklines and a powerful chorus. Love Dies Hard is an awesome rocker that is in the same league as Dokken, Autograph, Icon and the other big hardrock names back in the 80s. Yes, this is filled with crunchy guitars and with a first class chorus with muscles. I don’t understand why they have three covers on the album, Children Of The Revolution (T-Rex), Let Me Rock (Chequered Past) and That’s Why I Fell In Love With You (Eddie Rabbitt) and these songs takes down the grade.
This is a fine 80s hardrock album with a couple of winners for sure. Danger Zone is back together working on new material so hopefully there will be another album. But check out Line Of Fire if you´re into those mentioned acts because there are some great moments. This comes in a digitally remastered packaged with a Special Limited Edition and individually numbered slipcase. The artwork looks great. |
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| Italian rockers Danger Zone is here with their second album. The debut was released last year and was recorded back in 1989 but saw the light of day last year. Now they are back with an album that continues in the same way as the debut. They deliver 80s melodic hard rock with lots of melodies and great riffs. Vocalist Giacomo Gigantelli has a hoarse voice that suits the sound good and sometimes reminds of Claus Lessmann (Bonfire). I To I is a strong song with crunchy guitars and a catchy chorus. Half A Chance is a real smoker with nice riffs and filled with hooks. Falling Up is a superb mid-tempo song with nice strings. Goin'On is a bluesy rocker with great melodic riffs and a powerful chorus that sounds a bit like Gotthard meets Bonfire. Best song is the awesome Heaven More Than Hell, and here we are talking about hook laden song with an outstanding chorus that knocks you out after the first spinn. If you liked the first album you'll like Undying also without a doubt. If you like Bonfire, Terra Nova and China, so do not hesitate to buy Danger Zone new album. |
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| Dangerous! is an energetic rock band from down under, they have signed to Epitaph Records and recorded their debut with producer Ulrich Wild (Static X). The new single "Not one of you" is taken from the upcoming album "Teenage Rampage", we´re talking loud rock here that has traces of 70´s punk rock but with the same attitude as a modern hardcore band. The song don´t get stuck the first time around but it slowly grows, and I come to think of The Hives but of course a lot better. These guys don´t mess around, they´re for real! |
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| Daniel Band is a Christian Rock/Hard Rock band that released On Rock back in 1982. This album was reissued through Magdalene Records in 2001 but this Collector’s Edition has been remastered and has been included with 2 new bonus tracks recorded in 2009 that makes this an interesting re-release. Singer Dan McCabe has a great voice and I have to say that he reminds very much of Geddy Lee (Rush) and some of the songs leans strongly towards the same sound as Rush. If you mixture Rush with Foghat, April Wine, Jerusalem and early Petra then you got the sound of Daniel Band. I have to say that this album sounds very tight and powerful with nice riffs and melodies. Not all of their songs are memorable ones but they got a raw sound with lots of energy. Free From Sin is a nice guitar rocker with a touch of Rush meets April Wine. The pompish keyboard intro to Undercover Christian is brilliant and so is the rest of the song with layers of keyboards and melodies, a fantastic Rush smelling rocker that fans of Rush will jump of joy. April Wine resemblances can be heard on Never Again that rocks nice with cool keyboards and pounding drums. Spiritual Game is the best song of the album and is a fantastic song story with a wonderful AORish chorus. The new songs It All Turns To Rain and I Give You All are ok songs and is a nice bonus for this album. The lyrics has a sometimes a very clear Christian message but that don’t mind me at all. A nice surprise that fans of Rush definitely should check out . |
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| Daniel Glen Timms is an artist in the Americana genre who likes to blend in country music as well as pubrock, imagine a mix of Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson and Rockpile and we´re close to the sound of his 3rd album "Life´s an illusion". I think the album is a bit uneven but the shining moments do put a smile on my face with songs like "Dream all day", "Wild blue ocean" and "Luminous sky". The acoustic piece "My dogs" bring thoughts to David Gilmour while "Lover of herself" could be an unreleased song with Graham Parker and The Rumours, cool. Daniel grew up in Louisiana and moved to California but is now living in Nashville, the capital city of country music which of course has affected his sound on this album. |
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| Listen up people - check this guy out at once!!! What we have here is nothing than a superb CD filled with great modern melodic pop with a touch of AOR. A great production with drumloaps, twinky guitars and a marvellous big portion of good songs. It all starts up with "Medicate" which is a 100% hit, second out "Good Day" will be on the list of this years best songs and "Winter Sunset" which smells U2 is just beautiful - well all songs are beautiful and good. Who's helping Daniel out with the album then? Well Steve Ferris is there and so are Rusty Anderson and Corky James among others. A must if you're into melodic modern pop with a big portion of hitsongs. |
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| Sorry folks... Im a lucky guy to get hold of this magificent CD. Cause BMG/RCA have dropped this great artist! Yepp - you read it all right. They dropped her! And this album is even better than the Greg Alexander (New Radicals) produced debut a couple of years back. Once again she have worked with Greg whos responsible for almost every song together with her. Its damn good. Its a superb mix of modern vibes and cute pop. Look for it on Napster. |
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New Jersey based Danny Danzi welcomes you to his Danziland.
"Danziland" is the second album from Danny and he delivers typical 80?s hardrock in the veins of Johnny Lima, Velocity and Heaven?s Edge.
His debut "Somewhere Lost In Time" was released in 1999 by Z Records. That album was an average affair with weak songs with a couple of exceptions but the production was horrible.
So I was a bit curious about his new album and to hear if he had got his act together and managed to come up with a better production and even stronger songs than he had on the debut.
Well, the sound and production is better on "Danziland" than he had on his debut album but still the production is weak and without any power. The songs are stronger and better than on his debut but don?t lift to higher grounds because of the weak and lousy production.
This new album is a bit harder and more guitaroriented with couple of nice tracks.
I just imagine how good the semi-ballad "Let It Go" could have sounded with a better production, still a nice song. My personal favourite on "Danziland" is the straight ahead AOR-rocker "All Or Nothing" with superb 80?s dutt-dutt keyboards that starts off the song in a great way and follows by a nice chorus.
The album ends with the European bonus track "What About Us", an acoustic ballad that won?t make a bigger buzz.
I have to say that it?s done OK but we have heard this so many times before and in many cases with a better result. Here is nothing that really touches me in anyway because of the weak production.
If you?re a fan of his debut album then "Danziland" will fulfill your needs and the rest of us can just stay away from this album.
An average album, nothing more, nothing less. |
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