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Former Evanescence guitarist / songwriter Ben Moody started working on his debut solo album in 2006 and 3 years later, we get to hear the result.
He has produced, performed and written the entire album except for guest vocals from Hana Pestle.
At first listen, I must admit that it felt like a mediocre affair of lullabies but the album grows and after a few spins - it really isn´t that bad.
Songs like "10.22", "Wishing well" and "In time" are in fact very good ballad songs.
Don´t expect any rockers here, Ben is walking a different path with "All for this".
I don´t mind as long as the songs are enjoyable, sure it´s a fine line of becoming quite dull but Moody is a highly skilled songwriter and he knows how to keep the music interesting.
Let it grow on you. |
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Ben Moody is best known as the guitarist and founder of Evanescence that in beginning of the 2000s ruled the new wave of melodic rock.However, he chose to leave the band 2003 during their European tour due to creative differences.Career wise, it was perhaps not a good choice as the successor project We Are The Fallen did not work very well and was just dropping a plate on Universal Records.
He has also managed to release two solo albums where the debut All For This was a pretty cool record filled with Modern Rock in a slightly darker form.It was for a long time supposed to come out on Wind-Up Records, but this did not happen and he had to release it through Amazon.
This new album You Can not Regret What You Do not Remember follows the same track as the last one, and proves once again that Ben is a talented songwriter.But even if it is competent it doesn’t move me at all since Ben is not a great singer to be honest.Ok, he does not sing bad, but it is not good enough to hold against all the other bands out there since the songs are way too standard here.
Songs like "Always Do" and "Run Away" is good and atmospheric, but overall "You Can not Regret What You Do not Remember" sadly worse than what I expected from someone who has sold millions of albums.
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I remember when I bought Angers Candy with Blake Morgan and listened to it the first time... I was stunned. It was such a trip. It was right up the Winberg Avenue of rock. The Terry Manning produced album was released on Phil Ramones Sony-distributed N2K label that didnt do much work with it so it just got lost in the big ocean. Blake started his own label called Engine Company Records where also other artists will and have done music as well. You will read an interview with Blake and where he will tell you more about that later on.
Well - after all struggles and work with a new studio etc etc etc a new album finally is here. And it is worth every freekin minute of waiting. It is as good as we could expect. Even better. A mighty follower to Angers Candy. And its in the same school even if the new album is a little more edgy and "dark" than the album from 1997.
The mix between styles is so damn cool... Led Zeppelin mixed with Kevin Gilbert mixed with Lenny Kravitz mixed with Jeff Buckley mixed with Dave Grohl mixed with even a commercial radiotouch ala Gavin DeGraw on a phew places. All influenced produced by him and Phil Nicolo into something unique
I just love it. Its pure heaven. This album will without any doubts end up high on my toplist over the best albums of 2005.
Its very close to the fifth star.
Blake is a hero. Grab a copy today folks.
KAJS REVIEW ON THE SAME ALBUM:
Blake Morgan is not your traditional singer/songwriter,well maybe you could find traces on his debut "Angels candy" (1997) to compare BM to the majority of singer/songwriters but on the new album "Burning daylight" (out in July) - Blake?s killer pop/rock instincts takes the music to new frontiers.
With a mix of infectious powerpop and mega radio friendly modern rock,these 11 new songs could be the album of the summer for many of you out there.
Blake has such power in his voice and makes the melodies even more alive and kicking than they already are,just listen to "Only Anesthesia" and get carried away to nubreed paradise!
The ballad "Better angels" sounds like something Don Henley and Dave Grohl could?ve written together,a real strong song.
Going out for a long trip in your car?! well then you need gas,AC and Blake Morgan?s Burning daylight. |
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| What a voice this man sits on... what a voice... phew... I have been raving about this man since his debut "Angers Candy" back in 1997. Now he?s done an album like Ryan Star from Stage did last year - an album with just a marvelous voice and an instrument called piano (well Ryan played guitar on a few tunes). On Blake?s album he have chosen favorites from his past albums and there are some great versions of songs like "Sick For You" that in this intimate arrangement is a killer and "Danger To Wake You" which also is fabulous in a naked version like this. "It?s Gone" from "Angers Candy" is also very very fresh in a new version and feels like a beautiful John Lennon goes Elton john sort of ballad. Imagine that yourselves... There are a few tracks that don?t deliver as much as I expected though... "Better Angels" is one example. If that song would have been a new one and I heard it for the first time on this album I would have been stunned of course, but now I have all ready heard the ultimate version recorded on his previous album "Burning Daylight". In any case - Blake Morgan is one of the coolest man in business and I can?t say enough how much I look forward to his next "real" full length album. This album is just a real damn cool piece of work until then. |
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| A marvellous debut album from a unique artist. A classic debut. His voice combined with a perfect production and songwriting is nothing less than a great album.The album which was released on Lenny Kravitz & Ohil Ramone´s recordcompany (Engine Company Records - that soon after this recordrelease closed down) contain 10 tracks which all sits on a very high level of music. Imagine yourself a cool mix between Jeff Buckley, Todd Rundgren, Travis, John Wesley Harding and a soft Chris Cornell and you´re quite where this man parked his car on this debut. And if you haven´t discovered the man before - it´s time to do so. Both with this album and the stuff he´ve done after it. |
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Bobby Messano is such an underrated guitarist, he doesn´t get the same attention as Neal Schon, Randy Rhoads, Jimmy Page or Gary Moore.
But he sure is worth it, this guy has played with the best and also recorded one of the best hard rock riffs in the history with Starz 1978 anthem "Coliseum Rock".
Bobby has played on AOR classics like Joe Lynn Turner´s "Rescue you", Glen Burtnick´s "Talkin in code" and Lou Gramm´s "Long hard look".
He´s been a member of Starz, Tycoon and Frankie and the Knockouts and toured with artists like Steve Winwood and Robin Beck.
His first solo album "Messano" from 1989 is a magnificent AOR album and in 1997, the 2nd album "Dominion roads" was released but this time his fans could hear a new side of Bobby´s songwriting and guitar playing.
Just like Gary Moore, Bobby went from melodic rock to blues and how he did it.
The 2003 album "Holding ground" was Grammy nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album, and 6 years later we find Bobby releasing another fine blues rock album with "Trials, traumas, tribulations and demos".
Sure, the most demaning sound freak has something to say about the drum production which is the most obvious demo sounding instrument on this 10 track album.
The guitars and vocals sound great though, Bobby´s six string work is out of this world and I find myself flying away in the sky to the lovely acoustic piece "Fireflies".
The album opens with the Eric Clapton-like "Lonely Ramona" that could´ve been featured on Clapton´s Journeyman album from 1989.
Songs like "No soul city" and "Rain" bring thoughts to Steve Ray Vaughan and Joe Bonamassa, great and groovy songs indeed.
I don´t own many blues albums but I sure as hell am proud over this one in my collection. |
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Brian Melo is the winner of the 5th season of Canadian Idol in 2007, he had the good taste of choosing to perform songs by artists like Live, Queen, Incubus, The Watchmen and Tonic.
Melo is also a lead singer of the Ontario indie band Stoked since 2003, his debut solo album was released in Nov.2007 and it features the first hit single "All I ever wanted" and the new hit single "Shine".
The music is contemporary pop/rock almost like a modern rock version of Bryan Adams, the album is filled with 3 minute songs carefully following the formula of safe mainstream rock.
Melo is a talented singer without doubt and I am very sure he doesn´t have to go back to the construction business for quite some time, I prefer when he decides to rock a little harder like on the title track "Livin it" and "Stay" but there are several radio ready songs that is reason enough for you to order a copy at amazon.ca. |
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| From Perth, Australia comes Courtney Murphy. He made it to the Top 3 on the Australian Idol in 2004 and performed alongside John Farnham in 2005, he and his brothers Chris and Kieran also has a band called Murphy´s Lore but let´s focus on Courtney´s solo debut "Big". This is a really good album of Bleu-ish pop and even moments of Billy Joel-like soulpop, and to my surprise I got to know that Bleu mixed it so there you´ll go. "Big" consists of 10 original tracks and a cover of Billy Field´s no.1 hit "You weren´t in love" that Courtney does a great version of. This man is a super talented singer and it´s truly a joy to listen to his voice on songs like "The actress", "Second best" and the new single "Salvation Jane". It says in his biography that the guys of Taxiride wrote music on "Big", that is wonderful....it was about time I heard something from that great band. Highly recommended! |
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This is an album from a few years ago. Its a worshipalbum from Canadian worshipleader Dan Macaulay.
The album is filled with positive and uplifting songs that are catchy and easy to remember after a few spins.
Dan is a good singer and his passion for God cannot be overlooked.
The songs are okay, but the problem is the production. The sound lacks power and the mix is not on the spot.
This kind of music needs a top-notch production and this brings the rate of this album down unfortunately.
There is potential though, check this album out at cdbaby. |
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Does the name Daniel MacMaster ring a bell for some of you? Well, he is the guy that sang in Jason Bonham?s band Bonham and released 2 albums if I don?t remember it wrong.
Yes, it?s the same guy and he?s back with a new soloalbum that contains songs written and recorded between 1991-2003 and has been re-mastered by Gregg Fulkerson (Blue Tears, Attraction 65).
Some of the songs are demos but Gregg has managed to give the songs a good quality sound.
There are also 4 tracks that were written during his time with Bonham and have never been officially released so here is a treasure for every Bonham fan for sure. The songs "Great Confusion", "Feeling Inside", "Friends Of Mine" and "Can?t Win For Losing" are typical Bonham songs but the sound of these are weaker than the rest of the album and it?s a pity because with a better sound these would have been like candy for kids for Bonham fans.
Still great to hear these songs.
The rest of the album goes in a Bonham meets Black Crowes style and it?s very acoustic in places.
Daniel sings outstanding on these songs, what a voice. Highlights on the album are "Bleeding Hearts Collide", "Is She Falling" and "Just Before You Say Goodbye" (which is a brilliant ballad) and the best song of the whole album.
A great laidback rock album that should be checked out by fans of Bonham because this is good stuff. |
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Attention please!,never judge a book by it?s cover and that goes for albums as well coz Danielle McKee?s debut has an awful cover but it?s what inside (the music) what counts.
It has nothing to do with her looks coz she?s a very pretty girl but it looks like a cheap country record you could buy in the local store for midprice.
Nothing could be more wrong coz Danielle rocks big time,she?s not at all like Avril Lavigne and Michelle Branch that many might wanna compare her with.
This former background vocalist for Nelly Furtado puts up a big wall of hardrocking guitar riffs mixed with megacatchy pop choruses delivered in a big budget production from guitarist/producer Mike K. (also Nelly Furtado).
If you have heard Fefe Dobson you know what I?m talking about but Fefe is more punkpop-ish than Danielle,I can?t stop loving this record coz it contains 12 addictive songs with a big variation of rockers,radiofriendly songs and lovely ballads.
She?s one of the best female rockers I have heard in a long time,this album is wicked!!!
A contender for my top 20 album list 2005. |
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| Suitcases is the first single from Texas based singer/songwriter Dara MacLean, there is also a Canadian singer/songwriter with the same name that has been around since the late 90´s but it´s not the same person. This Dara MacLean release her debut "You got my attention" today on Word where this single is featured on, Dara has a great voice that suits this Motown sounding piano pop very well. She names Lauryn Hill as one of her biggest influences and there are traces of Hill in this song but also Alicia Keys and Plumb. The song grows and has hit potential. |
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| I did a review of Dara MacLean´s first single "Suitcases" earlier this summer and I liked it, R&B pop nicely produced by All Star United frontmanIan Eskelin (Stellar Kart, Hawk Nelson). Dara´s debut album "You got my attention" contains both R&B songs but also Motown funk and soul as well as radio ready pop/rock, definitely for fans of Adele, Natasha Bedingfield and Alicia Keys. The title track could´ve been something from a Duffy album while "Gratitude" has more in common with The Veronicas, another song with hit potential is the uptempo "Unreachable". Dara is a great singer and this album is well produced but it lacks of originality, but she´ll probably sell plenty of copies because she´s got a major label to back her up. |
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| Wasactually verysurprised when Ilisten to thisEpfor the firsttime.Wasnot expecting thatDarryMillerand TheVeil'swould play fresh and classy modernpop / rockin the same vein as The Frayand GavinDegraw.The coveractually feelsmorecountryto me in some way,butthis is far fromNashvillemusically to be honest.The band also got afootin the 80’s like in the ultracatchy"Quite TheSubstance” with an energyand melodythat is impossibleto deny.A littlepity thatwe onlyhavethree songs here, but theydo show some greatqualities and that they’re a band to watch out for in 2012. |
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| They went straight up to number one in the US with their new release - which actually is their best to date! Its actually a damn fine moment in an own style of modern rock with - well how should I say - jam sessioned rock. Great vibe anyway and a superb production signed el maestro Glen Ballard makes this album a winner. So get yourself a copy today. Even if you havent got their previous ones. Get it. |
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