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Behind this album we can find a very talented guy called Marc Ferreira. Marc hails from Brazil but lives in the States now and has released albums with his bands Cartoon and Monkey Bite.
He released the Cartoon album as a solo album sometime ago and that was a nice AOR album in the style of Journey, Survivor and Night Ranger.
Now he?s back with a brand new solo album and this time he has recorded a modern rock/AOR album with hints of powerpop. You can hear clear influences from bands like Harem Scarem, Nelson and Cheap Trick. Marc has done everything on the album from playing all the instruments, singing to writing and producing the songs except from one song were Gus Monsanto sings on.
I have to say that the songs are very strong with great variation. The production is also very good except the drumsound that is a little too demo-ish. It doesn?t ruin the songs in anyway but with more power with the drums, this would have been a fantastic album.
Out of the 13 tracks there are lots of earcandy in my opinion. Just listen to the opening track "Super Perfect World" that smells Nelson meets Cheap Trick for a long way. Great rocker with nice guitarriffs. "Hello It?s Me" is more like Harry Hess solo album with guitars sounding like 40FT Ringo.
"Set My Devil Free" is a more tougher affair with heavy guitars but the chorus is filled with great hooklines and is more AORish like Harem Scarem. Superb stuff. "She Promised" is more powerpop lean into Cheap Trick and Rubber territory with good melodies.
Nelson AOR can be heard on "Talk About It" that is a catchy song and could have been taken from the debut album from the blonde twins.
One more thing that makes these songs a real treat to listen to is Marc?s voice that lies somewhere between Harry Hess and the Nelson brothers in some way.
The only thing that is weak on this album is the drumsound like I said.
If you?re looking for a new talented artist and are into Harem Scarem, Nelson and even touches of Cheap Trick- I think you should really give this album a try. If it?s hard to find this album you can write to him at this address :marcferr@hotmail.com |
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Not long ago I reviewed an album from Marc Ferreira called "Set My Devil Free" and now he?s back with not only one but two albums.
You get 20 songs from this talented guy. Ok,few of the songs were already on the "Set My Devil Free" album and the new songs sounds better than ever. This Brazilian guy that lives in Denver is clearly influenced by Harem Scarem, Nelson, Loud & Clear and Cheap Trick.
Most of the songs has a typical Harry Hess arrangement and sound over them.
From the "To The Right" disc,the new songs are "Paper Cut" that is so much Harem Scarem from their later period and "Rainy Days" is an acoustic mid-tempo rocker with a Nelson meets Loud & Clear feeling over it.
Marc has a voice that is somewhere between the Nelson brothers and Jesse Harnell of Loud?n?Clear. The song "80122" a nice instrumental piece with Pete Lesperance sounding guitars over it.
"Your Experience" is the weakest track on the album and like the title says ,a bit too experimental.
New songs from "To The Left" are "Taste What It?s Life" which is a rocker in the style of the solo album from Harry Hess with great harmonyvocals that reminds of Loud & Clear and "It Got To Be" is leaning more to the modern rock/Aor field. It?s a nice mixture of Nelson meets Cheap Trick with background vocals a?la Def Leppard in the chorus.
"Ticket To Paradise" is a brilliant melodicrock/AOR song that sounds a lot like Def Leppard with great harmonyvocals, the harmonies sounds huge and awesome. Great chorus BTW with lots of superb melodies that would please any melodic fan.
If you dig Nelson and are waiting for a new album from the twins then listen to "She Changed Her Mind" that Marc delivers with pure class and sounds like a mixture of the 1st and last Nelson album.
"Twice" is leaning more to the Cheap Trick sound with a more AORish chorus a?la Harem Scarem.
Rest of the tracks that already were on "Set The Devil Free" hold a good quality and if you don?t own a copy of that one then go for this one and you get the best from that album plus new songs.
Even if this is an independent release and that Marc has done everything by him self, it sounds really good both sound and production wise.
No, enough babble from me,I suggest you check out both of Marc Ferreiras albums. |
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Brazilian born singer/guitarist and songwriter Marc Ferreira strikes back with a brand new solo album.
He has released a couple of solo albums that I think are nice melodic rock/AOR albums, Marc also sang on the French progressive metal band Venturia´s 2 albums and on the great Goodbye Thrill’s debut album.
Working Overtime continues the journey from his previous albums and the sound is the same. If you haven’t heard him before I can say that he is strongly influenced by bands such as Harem Scarem, Nelson and Firehouse but with a more laid back feel over the songs.
The production is Ok but it would not hurt if the production got some more power into it but otherwise I can’t complain.
Marc is a great singer and a reminds of C.J Snare (Firehouse) and Harry Hess (Harem Scarem). The album is very even but some of the songs soundalike and he needs a few standout tracks to lift it up higher but still there’s plenty of nice ones.
Just listen to Working Overtime with nice harmonies and a good chorus. I´m Waiting could have been on Nelsons debut album, a great mid-tempo rocker. Paper Cut contains some strong melodic riffs and the chorus is nice. A very nice album from this talented musician and if you´re into those bands then give this guy a chance because it’s not bad. If you own a copy of the great Goodbye Thrill album then I´m sure you will enjoy this one as well. |
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Most often you can guess how an album will sound like by the artist´s name or the album title or simply look at the art work.
I thought I knew how Meredith Fierke´s album "The procession" would sound like and I had no kind thoughts, I said to myself that this is most certainly a boring and low budget produced singer/songwriter album that will be sold to the nearest second hand store.
Man, was I wrong!
Wether you call it alternative country, melancholic pop or folk rock - "The procession" is a great album of timeless music.
Even if you´re not a fan of acoustic pop/rock or folk music, Fierke´s songs will appeal to any music lover.
Her songs sounds like they can be used in motion pictures by Quentin Tarantino or the Coen Brothers, she´s got a great voice that suits these moody songs just perfect.
I think of Fierke´s compositions as road music, my thoughts go to Fleetwood Mac meeting Tanita Tikaram.
Such a lovely voice! |
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If you?re a songwriter, you can either look at the charts to see what?s popular or do as Canadian artist Mike Froh who did whatever he felt like on his solo debut "Everyone in the room knows but you".
This dude probably sat in the sofa one day and said to himself, -I like hardcore, electronica, pop and emo so why not use elements of all these styles on my album.
The result could?ve been a shattered and uneven affair but it?s not, Dear Solace is mainly a pop record with electronic beats but Mike also takes the listener on a ride into emo land and a few moments of headbanging hardcore/metal.
The acoustic guitar based "Leanne" ends the album in a fine way but before this nice ballad we get 43 minutes of hi-tech pop, the piano driven ballads "Wallflower" and "The Barse" puts a fine balance to this machine dominated album.
A radio edit of the 6 minute long "Back to the future" could actually work on mainstream radio, "Untitled part 1" is more of an ambient synthpop song while "Hazy eyes" sounds like a lost Elvis Costello composition.
In these times where new wave is trendy again, the dance-able "You?re all talk, I?m all action" belongs on MTV just as much Panic! at the disco or The Killers.
An album rich of nuances. |
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With influences of Lifehouse, Gin Blossoms, Vertical Horizon and Better Than Ezra the Oxford, England based Mike Finley has made his debut Ep, and it’s impressing collection of songs. The producer here is none less than the melodic.net hero Cary Pierce know for his solo album, Jackopierce period and some great productions of Kai Brown ad Jon Abel to mention a few. Add then some top notch musician here that have worked giants like Goo Goo Dolls, Jewel, Jars of Clay, Michael McDonald and you have a complete package that wants you to have more.
The tunes then are as impressive as the players with a really nice modern singer songwriter touch not far away from his influences, but maybe more to Graham Colton and Matt Nathanson. He mixes super catchy pop/rock with more traditional singer songwriter rock and this combination is really working I can tell you. And the fact that he comes from England really separates him from the rest and makes it even better in my opinion with a personal touch.
Songs that sticks out on "The Way We Are" are the Gin Blossoms like opener “summers’s Gone” and the final “Love” that Graham Colton dreams that he had written. But between those to up-tempo ones is the song that could change it all. “Good Morning America” with the coolest lyrics this year in “I loves this land where the beer tastes like water, driving on the wrong side of the road” is a hit with a really slow and dreamlike melody. I could really see this one in a commercial or some tv-show with a strong message and a melody that just stuck at once.
"The Way We Are" is a really strong Ep that will be out very soon and hopefully with a full length to follow, cause I want more! |
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"We?re not in Kansas anymore,we must be over the rainbow" is a classic phrase from Wizard of Oz - well we are in Kansas musicwise with the music of New York based composer/musician/singer Mike Florio and his solo debut "Arisen".
He must be a Kansas fan coz the whole album breathes Kerry Livgren,perhaps the music leans more towards Kerry Livgren?s A.D with a more pompous side to the progressive rock Mike has recorded.
Mike is a great singer and those melodies and harmony vocals takes us back to the heydays of the early 80?s when the best pomprock albums were made.
Mike also handles the keyboards like a true progrock hero,he deserves your respect if you look up to your collection of Kansas albums.
Other musicians are:Bill Thomas-Guitar,Dave Bailey-Bass and Steve Golden-Drums,there?s no doubt whatsoever whether you should own a copy or not coz I have played it the whole afternoon even when the thunderboomers were right over my house on this hot day and I should?ve shut down all electronic equipment like my pc but I just had to hear it!!!
Mike,you?ve got yourself a huge fan in Sweden. |
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Sometimes its hard to write reviews. Its like in this case. This is a
real fine moment in music but I will have quite a hard time to explain what
he sounds like. I have heard this sort of melodic pop rock hundred times
before but now when Im sitting here and write a review I cant think of one
more artist he sound like. God damn... hmmm... Well Ill do my best... As I
said, were not dealing with something unique here. On no... Just really fine
well produced melodic poprock with a modern piano-based jazzy songwriter
edge. His voice is somewhere between Jeff Cannata, Keven Jordan (if someone
more than me remember him) and Michael Penn. It all opens up with "Longing"
with a really nice AOR refrain and continues with the softer "Desirable
From Here" which is a BEAUTIFUL tune. Geehhh... and it sounds like someone I
cant point on... Damn... Hes very close to... hmmm... cant get it...
Anyway, in that way the album continues. Third out "Building Up In Me"
will appeal to all you westcoast freaks that still are out there and "Scan
Lines" have the same sort of feeling that Marc Jordans latest albums. I
suggest all you guys who read this weird review to surf to Petes homepage and
listen yourself. A really cool album with a lot of nice melodies! And whom the hell is it Im thinking of...??... |
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| This is sure music you seldom here these days. Pure westcoast ala 1981! Yepp, thats what the Swedish guitarplayer and songwriter Peter Friestedt have produced the year 2002. Its amazing. And more amazing is the line up, this "hobbyproject" has to offer... or what do you give me for guys like Bill Champlin, Michael Ruff, Joseph Williams, Abe Laboriel, Bill Cantos and Yellowjackets just to mention a few! As you all understand this is a wet dream for you guys who thought the music was better in the early 80s and misses the days of Airplay, Maxus, Bill Labounty and Champlins soloalbums. This CD plays almost in the same league. I mean the albums I just mentioned had millionbudgets back then and sessionmusicians all over. And to do that on this level is very impressive. Sure - there are no classic tunes such as Margarita by Marc Jordan or Stranded with Airplay and the Swedish hornsection are not Jerry Hey and his companions, but hey - its still one of the best pure westcoast CD Ive heard since 1990 til now. get the grip? Well I thought so. Surf to his homepage and order a CD now if you are born and raised on the same medicine as me. |
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It’s been quite a long wait since the first PETER FRIESTEDT CD which was released in 2002 (and also saw a re-release in 2004 with a different artwork). However, the “LA Project volume 2” has finally been released and it has been worth the wait.
This high class westcoast CD includes vocalists BILL CHAMPLIN, JOSEPH WILLIAMS, BILL CANTOS, MICHAEL RUFF, STEFAN GUNNARSSON, RANDY GOODRUM and LOU PARDINI (KOINONIA) and some of the coolest players of USA and Sweden. Or how about JOHN ROBINSON, TOMMY DENANDER, TRIS IMBODEN and ABE LABORIEL among others.
It all starts out with the very nice pop tinged westcoast tune “Where to touch you”, with Joseph Williams singing. One might say this song is the most AOR oriented, too. However, this is just the beginning! It gets even better when Bill Champlin adds his groove in “Cheyenne” which would easily have made it onto the Champlin CD “He started to sing”. This one’s easily one of the best songs of the year! If we continue, it smells a lot of TOTO in “One more night”, not only because Joseph Williams once again lends his lead voice to make it shine. Even the programmed drums are excellently performed here. To cut a long story short, ALL song are very good on this CD, and this time there are no obvious rip-offs of previous westcoast classics. The variation is great, as the album also includes two instrumental tracks where for example “Closer to home” will make every fan of LARRY CARLTON or JANNE SCHAFFER happy. Talking about Schaffer – I gotta mention the genius STEFAN GUNNARSSON who plays keyboards and sings just as well as any of the other singers here! The Schaffer relation is that Gunnarsson sang on the lovely “Av ren lust” CD by Schaffer. Finally, I will mention my absolute favourite song: “Careless mockingbird”. It’s a true softie a bit like the softer side of BOBBY CALDWELL, and the way Randy Goodrum sings here!!! Man, is he great or what? I even think of PAGES’ lovely ballad “Midnight angel” when I hear it. By the way, "Love is gonna getcha" IS indeed the old tune that Patti Austin scored a big hit with. Now, you go buy this CD right away. There’s no option. |
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In march of 2004 Phil Fischer released his first album called “Wounded Soul”. Despite the fact that he couldn’t find distribution anywhere he finally found some in South America. In 6 months after the release the album climbed rapidly up the charts, but again the distribution became the problem. After that some people made promises to distribute the album. In the end they turned their backs on him and left him with a loss of money. Though the potential was there the public didn’t get the change to get the album. “Wounded Soul” has sold 845,609 copies now without any distribution or radio play in the U.S..
In the meantime Phil turned to Christ and with “New Believer” he makes his first christian album.
The album features 11 rock/praise/worship songs with the powerful voice of Phil in front. His voice has hints of Jeremy Camp and Downhere singer Jason Germain. Justin Armstrong (Dave Matthews) produced the whole deal.
Good melodic songs are “Believe”, “Fly on high”, “A new song”, the rocker “Save me”, “Till the stars fall” and “I feel the Son” to name a few. A good album for sure.
The distribution of this album is again through his website. So surf over to www.philfischer.com and give this album a listen. |
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SOAK was originally released in 2003 but will now be released internationally by Big 3 Records in 2008, Rachel Farris splendid debut is also available on iTunes International so here´s the review again!
John and Dino Elefante!!!, there you go and now I got your attention, these AOR giants of brothers kinda rule the christian rock business as producers and songwriters.
I have followed John and Dino from the days in Kansas, Mastedon, their involvement in Petra, Johns 3 solo albums and all the releases on their labels Pakaderm and Selectric Records so it was really nice to see their names on this new album from Rachel Farris which is a real charming lady from Orlando,Florida!
Her debut is wonderful modern rock spiced Country AOR, if Rachel would get a penny for every lovely melody she delivers she would be a millionaire.
She´s a princess in this genre with a gracious voice that expresses emotions through her gently voice and her moving lyrics, in a way you will fall in love with her right away.
From the first note of the record when I hear her sing the words "You think you can have me...", I say to myself,Hey rachel!, -I do have you here....in my mind.
Shes a bit like Michelle Branch in a way but not really that much in the same matter of speaking and then you could say she has some Vanessa Carlton harmonies in her soft songs too but Rachel do have her own sound that is hard to explain because you gotta hear it.
The songs are not too faraway from the Nashville Country sound but John and Dino has put some AOR touch over it and the rough guitars do make the production a little heavier than most pop records in this genre, the ballads are extremely good and my knees gets weak when I hear "So good" and "I guess this is love", the string arrangement on the 2nd one is a real goodie!
The single "Im not the girl" feels like a major hit and Im pretty sure people will go around humming the melody if only the radio opens their eyes and plays it as they should.
I know its hard to break through in a business like this one when there are so many talented female singers out there with good songs but Rachel do stand on her own and when she looks at you with those
eyes....youre lost in her world of beauty and magic.
Thanks Rachel for letting us know you exist.
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Nashville based Rachel Farris new independent album "Fairytale" is only available as mp3 downloads at her myspace, there is no artwork available to post with this review so I will include a new promo picture instead.
The much talented singer/songwriter Rachel worked with John and Dino Elefante on her debut album "Soak" released on Big 3 records in 2003 and now also available at iTunes internationally.
The production on the new album is not as polished as her first album, this one feels more live sounding and rough.
Track by track review:
1.Now we know - A piano driven verse with a more rocking chorus that gets stuck in the head like superglue, Rachel´s tender voice feels a bit low in the mix on the verse but comes out crystal clear on the chorus. I want to hear it over and over again. She opens with the best track of the album.
2.Don´t want to be here - The intro could´ve been done by Journey in the mid 80´s but the song continues in a pop style a la Susanna Hoffs, still with lots of 80´s vibes. However, the song doesn´t grab me the same way the opening track did.
3.Need a change - Rachel is higher in the mix now which is only positive, the song is a bit odd compared to the rest where the synthesizer melody sounds cool at first but unfortunately gets annoying at the end of the song. Not a bad song though.
4.Seventeen - I find this song very charming, especially the chorus with the "I still feel sweet deet de de deet" line. This one gets me in a good mood and for some reason I come to think of Cyndi Lauper.
5.Go ahead dear - This song was written in 2003 and also the oldest track on the album along with the closing track, I really like the groove in this upbeat pop/rock tune. Thumbs up for the smart melodies in the chorus.
6.Stix and stones - Here comes the first ballad with a country smelling verse and a radio friendly chorus in the same vein as Kelly Clarkson and Marion Raven but we have heard it before so to speak.
7.Chosen - Another piano driven song that pays a visit in The Beatles land on the chorus, quite nice anyhow. I can almost feel the sand between my toes when I´m dreaming away walking on the beach on a hot summer day.
8.Slip - Too bad the chorus feels a bit mediocre on this song because the verse is very rhythmic and strong, it would´ve been so much better with a stronger chorus.
9.I still believe - Rachel comes out rocking on this track that was co-written by Brandon Vestal, I like the riff.
10.Beautiful man - One of the highlights on the new album, Madonna meets The Bangles on this 80´s influenced pop song. No doubt this could´ve been featured on a Motion Picture Soundtrack back in the 80´s.
11.La Anthem - The song is not about L.A which is easy to understand when you hear the chorus - Lalalalalalalalalalalalalala, a happy song that will do just fine on a party mixtape.
The album is not as AOR-sounding as "Soak" but definitely worth checking out, Rachel knows how to write memorable melodies.
This album is essential for fans of Nina Gordon, The Veronicas and Danielle McKee |
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Rob Frazier was a member of Petra in 1979, he played keyboards and shared lead vocals with Greg X.Volz on the album "Washes whiter than".
Rob also co-wrote many songs for artists like Steve Camp, Rick Cua, Geoff Moore as well as Kansas hit "Play the game tonight" together with Livgren and Co.
His solo debut "Cut it away" came out in 1984 and his latest album with the Blues farmers in 1999, but the album that caught my attention was "This town" from 1986.
This westcoast adventure took me for a ride with John Cafferty sounding AOR and David Foster-like ballads, the production may sound dated today but the songs gets me in a nostalgic mood.
Especially the great ballad "Break my heart" that deserves an award of any kind, another great song on this album is "Army of love" that could´ve been a Petra song.
Pure nostalgia! |
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| The christian rock scene has made a major face lift lately with stunning acts like Blindside ,Aaron Spiro,Lincoln Brewster, Daily Planet and now Ronnie Freeman. This talented pianoplayer and wonderful singer has done his debut on Michael W.Smith record company and M.W.Smith said....-Hearing Ronnie Freeman was like hearing a younger version of myself. The songs are a mix of westcoast and AOR/pop. The vocals by Ronnie is adorable! Listen to "The only one" and get carried away on the magic carpet ride. Standing beside James Ingram and Michael Mcdonald,this guy has nothing to be ashamed of laying down all his feeling in his singing. The colossal ballad "Saitisfied" takes me to heaven above,it?s a majestic piece. Saying prayers isn?t easy all the time but Ronnie Freeman sure do help on the way. The spirit of Michael W.Smith shines on the uptempo track "Dont give up on me". So open your heart and let Freeman in,I?m sure he will stay there warming every single corner for a long time. |
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Did you know that?
Balance singer Peppy Castro recorded 3 tracks for the 1987 porn movie Born For Love from Teresa Orlowski´s film company.
The tracks have not been released on CD.
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latest reviews
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