How sad it is that after delivering 20 years of some of the best, although virtually ignored, melodic hard rock, the Canadian boys in Harem Scarem are calling it a day. They have left us with a swan song in the form of “Hope”, another blast of ominous, thundering rock poised to shake your bones loose.
Anyone who has yet to discover the majesty that is Harem Scarem is in for a royal treat. Every CD I have ever heard by this group impresses with its loud and bold sound – they are the giants with all the muscles in the weight room at the music gym. Their CDs are impeccably produced with modern guitar tones, one of the tightest rhythm sections, and towering vocals. Best of all, Harem Scarem bases everything on a foundation of melody and memorable songwriting.
“Hope” is a great release - one that I would count among the best of melodic hard rock albums for 2008. However, as a whole, I do not find it as instantly likable as their previous recent masterpieces like “Human Nature”, “Higher” or “Weight of the World”. Despite its title, I find it darker and more serious - which is fine - but it is also deficient in the hook department. Still, there is plenty of what we love from Harem Scarem, with highlights including “Time Bomb”, “Dark Times”, and “Never Too Late”. Even the slower and mid-tempo tracks rock you right out of your chair, such as “Shooting Star” and “Nothing Without You”. Before the curtain falls, they close with a tender and acoustic rendition of “Higher” that is chill-inducing, showcasing the raw talent these guys have that unfortunately is not finding its way into many an ear.
Keep an eye out for the inevitable solo discs these guys (Harry Hess and Pete Lesperance) are going to be releasing in the future. In the meantime, be sure to check out the ones they have already put out a few years ago.
iPOD-worthy: 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11
Harem Scarem on MySpace. Official site.
2 comments:
Karma Cleansing is probably my favorite HS album. Saviors Never Cry is one of my favorite tunes....and the title track of Weight of the World is a favorite as well.
I love almost everything HS has ever recorded. Hope is actually one of my all time favorite albums, although Mood Swings, VOR, Human Nature and Higher are up there too. It's a shame that they didn't get the recognition they rightly deserved. Watch Your Back, Hope, Dark Times, Nothing Without You-- all rock fans need to hear these tunes.
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