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| Fresh poprock from the New Zealand born guitarist Phil Joel with his 2nd album that sure do has it?s fine moments,but looking at the whole record I miss the peaks that stand out. One song though that feels a bit different is "The man you want me to be" with it?s U2/Hooters kinda rock with Irish winds. The single "I adore you" is a beautiful midtempo tune that I like a lot but it won?t make it in on my top 20 songlist. Good christian rock like this is beeing made over and over again so it?s nothing special. Phil Joel has a raspy voice in his own way,very nice hearing it by the way. The album is rocking and works for what it is the time it?s running in the stereo but doesn?t leave any bigger impressions afterwards. I sure can fool someone with the track "Move" that it?s a cover of an unreleased Marc Bolan song! Well,bring it on. |
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Phil Joel known as the bassplayer of The Newsboys is here with his third solo-album. This album has a less poppier approach than his work with The Newsboys. He delivers an album with a more raw and rootsy brit-poprocksound with hints of bands like coldplay.
The album is a very personal and honest one, with beautiful songs like ?Time alone?, the rocker ?Changed?, the rockballad ?Burning down? and ?Drown?. The best song of the album, the beautiful ?Jealous? closes this album.
Check out his website and give this fine album a listen. I promise you that you won?t be disappointed. |
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I found a bunch of old reviews we did 10-15 years ago for the first edition of Melodic Net (back then the site was called Midwestern Skies). I thought we should add these reviews and perhaps you'll find some cool stuff to buy. But please be aware that the reviews are from 1997-1999 etc so they may be a little "out of date"... At least some of them... )
Richard is a new talented guitarist that has released his debut album. Richard has done everything on his own on this album. Hi sings, plays guitar, bass, keyboards, drum programming and produced it. The production lacks of quality and it lowers the grade a bit. Richard plays melodic hardrock in the veins of Trixter, Eyes (3rd album), Kyle Vincent and Danny Danzi. Specially Danny Danzi comes in mind when you listen to this CD. Richard has recorded 12 songs on this album and 3 of them is instrumental. Couple of the tracks are really nice listening to. At the end of this album the songs get little to average and boring listening to. Find What You´re after is a rocker in same style as Danny Danzi. Man Of Desire got a Trixter sound over it. Racing Time and Reflections is two mid-tempo songs with resemblances to Kyle Vincent with more guitars. So Close To Heaven is a great semi-ballad that could have been on the 3rd Eyes album. These songs are the best once on the album and the rest is average hardrock songs. Take away couple of tracks and you have a nice album. If you liked the Danny Danzi album from Z-Records and that you don´t mind that the production is little weak then you will enjoy this pretty much.
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| Here we have a hard working musician from New York that has recorded a album with 33 tracks. This is a double-CD set were Robert has almost done everything on his own with some help from others. I don´t know what to call this but he mixes everything from rock, hard rock to metal and you name it. This is a concept album presenting a chronological timeline of the history of the paranorman, supernatural, sci-fi and horror from Stonehenge all the way to modern day ufo sightings stopping along the way for visitations from witches, zombies, ghosts and mosters. Each song on this album is introduced by a narrative tale that makes this album more strange and weird at the same time. Alice Cooper came on my mind when I listen to this album but this is just lot worse and totally horrible. Robert is not a lead singer either and the songs are tough to listen to and the production is weak and terrible at the same time. I don´t know what more to say about this album because this is one of the worst albums I have listen to in a long time. Still I have to give Robert credit for doing what he belives in and record not one but two albums aswell but it don´t satisfie my music taste. No, this is something you can avoid. |
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This is one slightly unexpected but very welcome comeback album. Well, at least stylewise it is a comeback for Swedish guitar oracle ROLF JARDEMARK. Upon releasing a soft fusion/westcoast album entitled "Soft Landing" in 1989 (featuring a unique vocal track with Michael Ruff), he's been more into jazz for quite some time. Until now! Zink Records give us this new "Sunset In Guitarland" album, much in the same style as the classic 1989 album. This is the kind of album that stressed souls need for recreation.
Without hesitation I can recommend this CD right on to anyone who's a fan of LARRY CARLTON, KOINONIA, ERIC JOHNSON or ERIK BORELIUS (another Swedish guitar phenomenon). So we're talking soft and smooth fusion/jazz with a touch of latin, soul or even pop here and there. KOINONIA springs to min in the first song "Smoothie" - yeah, you see the title sort of leads the way here. Gentle guitar playing meets a breezing rhythm section, and you think of summer holidays. It's also very soft in the wonderful "Magnolia", where Rolf's playing is simply lovely. Add to this a great piano solo by MICHAEL RUFF, and you're at home. Talking about mister Ruff; he's singing lead in the latin flavoured westcoast pop/jazz tune "Rhythm Of The Rain". There's a touch of JOSEPH WILLIAMS in his voice at times, although he's mainly the same old Ruff with his unique and winning voice. The song also includes a Graydon:ish multi-guitar fill that will have westcoasters jump of joy.
"Del Mar" is like the music you'd like to hear when driving along Ventura Boulevard, and this song has got a more distinct and driving beat. On the subject of occasional songs with more tempo, there's also "Mikells, once again with a great solo by Ruff - this time on organ. "There's one more vocal song, by the way. It's "Cahuenga And Vine" with BILL CANTOS on vocals. Stylewise it's quite close to Bill's own solo work, but also in the vicinity of ANDREAS ALEMAN's westcoast/soul album.
Among the musicians we also find (except for the ones already mentioned): Per Lindvall (drums), John Robinson (drums), Lars Danielsson (bass), Ulf Wakenius (guitar), Neil Stubenhaus (bass) and Ralph Humphrey (drums) among others.
A final note: If you haven't noticed, the title "Sunset In Guitarland" is in a way a wordplay or extension of the 1993 album "Guitarland". |
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Steevi Jaimz was a member of Tigertailz on their 1st album Young And Crazy and wrote their top-40 single Livin´ Without You.
On My Private Hell he has worked with Chris Laney that released a strong solo album called Pure a few weeks back and Anders Ringman that has worked with Crash Diet, Europe and Candlemass.
This is a damn fine sleaze/glam hardrock album with hook laden songs and strong melodies.
The choruses are huge with very AORish elements and Def Leppard-like harmonies.
So if you have albums with Chris Laney, Crash Diet, Carmen Gray, Johnny Lima and Crazy Lixx then you can’t avoid this one.
The start of the album is brilliant with Amazing, Don’t Say It’s Over and Something Good Something Bad are pure bliss.
These songs sounds huge with tons of melodies and outstanding hooklines.
Something Good Something Bad rocks big time and is a mixture of Carmen Gray meets Crown Of Thorns.
Still Crazy and My Private Hell with fantastic guitars and pounding drums comes from the same school as Crash Diet, yes we’re talking pure quality sleaze.
I Don’t Wanna Walk Away sounds like Def Leppard back in 1987, this could have been featured on the Hysteria album for sure.
Awesome ballad with fantastic melodies, just listen to the big harmonies, best song of the album.
The production is perfect with a great sound. This was an album that really took me by surprise and it has been played over and over again. So if you´re looking for strong album with hook laden tracks then My Private Hell is the cure. |
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"Hemingway?s cats" is Steven Jaymes 3rd independent release,this New Zealand born pianoplayer/singer is about to release a new album in the fall of 2005 but while waiting for that one - every fan of Marc Cohn,Bruce Hornsby and Jackson Browne should check out his 2004 record first.
This is a very well produced and performed album with some folkrock tendencies but the majority goes in the midwest rocking style and Steven really knows how to use his voice the best way.
His vocal range might not be impressive but it sure suits this cool style of jazzy piano based rock.
54 minutes may seem a little long since there are too many soft songs and I would have rated it higher with a few more uptempo tracks but it?s still an ok effort. |
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New Zealand born Steven Jaymes (he lives in Melbourne,Australia) goes directly to the roots on his new album "Black 17" - the whole album totally breathes blues,jazz and folkrock.
His voice reminds even more of Eric Clapton on this album and the music is less based on piano and fender rhodes,most of these songs have been written on the guitar giving the songs a more bluesy touch.
It?s like joining Sting on a picnic with Van Morrison where Don Henley is showing up with the dessert,Steven Jaymes has enough heart and soul to spread love through his music over the pacific ocean.
Who can stop him?,who wants to?,not me!
11 real nice tunes. |
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I am quite happy at the moment, since I get the chance to write about a lot of westcoast music right now. Even though this album was released in 2005, it is well worth writing a few lines about it. TORE JOHANSEN is a Danish guy who´s apparently very keen on westcoast music. This 13 track CD contains rather smooth pop/westcoast, occasionally with a soul flavour. (Though, the album cover may suggest otherwise; wearing a cap it would seem he´s more into rap or hip hop!).
Tore is helped out by some of the finest Danish studio session players like Lars Danielsson (bass) and Jonas Kragh (guitars). Most of the keyboards and programming is handled by Tore himself, which is both good and bad. The drum programming gives the album a very stiff feeling in some of the songs, which is affecting the overall picture a bit. But apart from this, it´s a very good CD. Try "Oceans apart" which is the best track of all, sounding a lot like Danish fellows ONE*O*ONE. The saxophone fills by Michael Lington are great! Several songs remind me of the early GLENN MEDEIROS songs (you know the "Nothing´s gonna change my love for you" era). Some of the songs tend to sound quite similar to each other, even though they are really good. So, there are things to improve, but still: I must recommend westcoast fans to check up this surprisingly good Danish artist. I mean, he even has the good taste of doing a nice cover version of BILL LA BOUNTY´s "It used to be me", ending the CD. |
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| Time for some wonderful westcoast pop again. Danish guy CLAUS TORE JOHANSEN (or simply TORE) released one full length CD prior to this CD single release, and this time he´s really taken a big step up. Not that the debut was bad in any sense, but this is an excellent semi-ballad. "Won´t Let You Go" sounds a lot like a mix of early RICHARD MARX and a pop tinged TOTO. The chorus gets stuck in your head for hours (unless you start listening to something else, of course). Producer and musician Jonas Krag has done a great job, and he even adds an amazing guitar solo besides the rest of the instrumental adds he´s involved in here. I really look forward to the next album! |
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Tra Jones singer/songwriter AOR lies somewhere between Marc Cohn,Don Henley and Gavin deGraw.
This North Carolina based singer/pianist takes me back down on memory lane when I visited the Christian music store Libris in Orebro as often as I could to find new great AOR/rock in the 80?s.
Back then,the albums from Wayne Watson,Russ Taff,Rick Cua,Chris Eaton and Rob Frazier were always a joy to hear for an AOR freak like myself.
Today,many of these artists are still quite good but has left the AOR behind in their music and most often concentrates on more traditional singer/songwriter rock.
That?s why I am rather fond of Tra Jones debut EP that is a great mix of 80?s Christian AOR with modern singer/songwriter rock.
Out of these 6 tracks we get 2 ballads in "Words fail" & "I will trust you",2 cheerful uptempo songs in "This moment" & "Falling faster" and the 2 midtempo pianodriven pearls "Run to you" & "Deep sea".
Special thanks to Cor Jan for sharing this with me! |
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One year after the release of his critically acclaimed debut solo recording, Mount Pelée, Trey Johnson delivers an eclectic mix of music performed by a variety of musicians. Produced by Trey, his partner Don Cento, guitarist and producer/arranger on Mount Pelèe, and Dallas’ own Paul Williams.
Where the East Ends has a unique identity all its own. Where Mount Pelée searched for new sonic territory and subject matter, W.T.E.E. explores different styles and energy. Recorded in just 10 days in May at Tomcast studios in Dallas the core band remained the same, James Driscoll, Rich Martin and Don Cento. However this time around, an impressive array of musicians contribute to the record. The result is a recording with more personality and unexpected turns than its predecessor. At Just under 35 minutes it’ll fit in your pocket and leave you wishing there was more.
Yeah, those words were taken from Trey´s website and I used it mostly because I listened to this album twice and couldn´t find a proper way to describe the sound and the songs on this album. It feels like Trey is influenced by several different music styles such as bluegrass, country, blues, ska and folkrock. I´m confused but on the other hand, it wasn´t such a bad album either.....just weird. |
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Here is a shortie about a very cool album... An album with a British guy that have an own way of being in his music. Imagine yourself a mix between Gavin DeGraw, Daniel Powter Stevie Wonder, John Mayer and Jason Mraz and you?re quite near the carpark of Tyler?s cool pop. Samples, scratches, groove driven guitars? and much much more. All this spiced with his great voice. And it is those ingredients I have taken to my heart.
The singles ?Foolish? and ?Your Woman?, ?Gone Are The Days? and the joyful ?Drunk All Night? are four good tracks worth mentioning but there are plenty more on the album in the same standard. A couple of ?to the same ? and they don?t go anywhere-tunes? take down the grading a tiny little bit but the main part of this album is lovely clever soulpop that I?m sure you will enjoy if you like the names I mentioned earlier in the review. |
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| Tyler James from UK released an album back in 2010 that I saw that we missed to write about, so I just thought I should give it a few lines. Tyler, who got a top 20 hit back in 2005 with the track "Foolish" deliver nice pianobased singer songwriter pop with clever lyrics and melodies. Mix the 70-era with Elton John with Ben Folds most soft moments and add a touch of Gavin DeGraw on top of it and we're quite near the garden of Tylers music. Nice album. |
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Here comes another album from a talented female singer-songwriter. This time it is Wendy Jans. Simple as a Song is an album filled with songs influenced by Norah Jones and Colbie Calliet to name a few. We are talking about soul-influenced pop songs that would be perfect on a sunny summer day.
The best song on the album for me is the third track, "Wonder Wonder" with its smooth jazzy sound and a Wendy that sounds adorable. It has got me nodding my head and singing along with the chorus. Another standout track is the fifth one, "Today Again" which also has got me tapping my foot and smiling.
Overall this album is a very nice piece. My only issue is that there are few other songs than the ones mentioned before that stands out. Sure, it sounds nice and all, but it gets a bit bland. This kind of music has been done before and the album does not manage to keep the same level of quality throughtout the album. Please do not think that this is a bad album though, it really is not. It just does not reach the top players in the same genre.
Wendy has a voice that is very smooth and enjoyable. Even though one might be able to hear some of the influenced mentioned earlier, she still sounds fresh and she has a voice of her own. If you are into music that makes you relax and feel like you are lying on a beach on a summer´s day, this is an album for you. I am looking forward to hear more of Wendy in the future. |
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Did you know that?
DEFAULT used to be called "The Fallout" which in turn, became the title of their album.
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latest reviews
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