Review: VEGA “Kiss Of Life”

Melodic Rock/AOR
VEGA is a melodic rock outfit featuring former KICK vocalist Nick Workman and the notable song writing partnership of Tom and James Martin (House of Lords, Ted Poley, Sunstorm to name but a few). Their debut album “Kiss of Life” has been produced by John Greatwood and features 12 slices of AOR that combine the classic 80s styles with more contemporary guitar tones.

Workman has an incredible voice with an amazing range – well suited for the tasks of quality AOR in the grand tradition of Journey. With his dynamic range, I can characterize VEGA as sounding like a hybrid between Judas Priest and Survivor. In fact, on some of the songs, I could swear the guys hacked Jim Peterik’s computer and stole some of his keyboard tones. No matter, what results is a very enjoyable AOR record built for 2011. The first three tracks are among the strongest (“Into The Wild”, “One Of A Kind”, and the title track), introducing us to the best VEGA has to offer right up front. These are huge arena-ready rockers with uplifting vocals and soaring riffs. Additional highlights include “Headlights”, “Stay With Me” and “Wonderland”.

I recommend VEGA for fans of traditional and modern AOR – this band delivers the perfect blend of both. “Kiss Of Life” is available now and VEGA will be on the road in 2011 taking it to the fans live on stage.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10

VEGA on MySpace.

Listen to "Into The Wild"

Review: Dave Stephens “Time Will Tell”

Powerpop
Dave Stephens is a singer/songwriter based in Southern California, who – after two hard years of toiling away - just released his third album, “Time Will Tell”. You can hear some clear Beatles influences in his writing and in some of his vocal inflections, but Stephens also incorporates modern styles into his music, along the lines of David Gray or even some early Radiohead (“Pablo Honey” era).

The songs on “Time Will Tell” are generally well done, meticulously crafted and performed – no better example of this than the sweeping title track. After a couple listens of the whole package, “Time Will Tell” is a decent powerpop record, but overall I wish the hooks were stronger. Stephens has a serviceable voice; while it is not going to blow you away, some will find it rather soothing. Among the tracks that I liked right away is “Tragedy”, a picture-perfect powerpop tune with plenty of crunchy guitar bouncing through the melody. “Peace Of Mind” is a pleasant and breezy piece, with some interesting chord progressions reminding me a lot of something the band James would do. “You Are Mine, I Am Yours” is another happy-go-lucky number that you’ll want to hear more than once – it ties with “Tragedy” as the best song on the CD for me. Finally, “Falling Away” is an epic ballad that closes the record on a compelling note.

So I’m not sure I’d say the third time is a charm for Stephens, but there are several tunes on “Time Will Tell” that won’t disappoint.

iPOD-worthy: 4, 5, 8, 11

Dave Stephens - Official site.

Listen to “Tragedy”

Review: The Silver Liners “The Silver Liners” [EP]

Rock
The DC band The Silver Liners is back with a new six pack of an EP, which follows last year’s "Just Like The Rest" (reviewed here). The new one is self-titled and pretty much picks up where these good time rockers left off. Half of this EP is fantastic, the other half not so much. “Runnin' Through My Head” kicks things off, and it is a great fun and funky rocker – like Prince meets Collective Soul. “Hot Mess” is standard Silver Liners fare sure to please fans of the last EP – and surely pleased me. “American Girl” has a great vocal hook in the chorus that will have you singing along in no time. A couple of the other tracks had potential but just didn’t do it for me. “Better Than Your Boyfriend” is more like a great idea than a song – a cool riff and lyric, but it is too redundant and gets tiring about halfway through. “Without A Face” is a bit bland, and the effects applied to the vocals ruin it for me (Nemeyer has an awesome rock tone, so adding effects like this is like keying your favorite car). Fortunately, the EP ends well with the 80s-flavored rocker “Just Like The Rest” – great tune. Despite a couple missteps on this one, there is obviously a lot of potential in The Silver Liners, and I look forward to their next offering.

The Silver Liners on MySpace. Official site.

Review: Various artists “Californication Season 4” Television Soundtrack

Now in its fourth season on Showtime, “Californication” is a sensation. The show, which stars David Duchovny as Hank Moody, has a close connection to music – this season, his teenage daughter Becca (played by Madeleine Martin) joins an all-girl rock band called Queens of Dogtown. The “Californication Season 4” Television Soundtrack features several tunes from Queens of Dogtown, along with other music from a variety of bands that “play a part in bringing to life many of the storylines of the new season).

The soundtrack features a lot of songs you are bound to be familiar with covered by artists you may be less familiar with…Eagles of Death Metal do a power rock rendition of the Stealers Wheel’s classic, “Stuck In The Middle With You”, even renaming it “Stuck In The Metal”. It’s actually a lot less metal than you might think. Better Than Ezra revamp “So Alive”, the breakout hit for alt rock godfathers, Love and Rockets. Queens of Dogtown do several cover tunes, including “Would?” (Alice In Chains), “Last Caress” (Misfits) and “I Remember You” (Skid Row). “Would?” just sounds wrong with anyone but Layne Staley singing it, but their removal of the power from Skid Row’s smash power ballad is surprisingly effective. Two songs buried in here that stood out were Cracker’s midtempo gem, “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me” and the gentle acoustic piece “If I Go, I'm Goin”, beautifully sung by Gregory Alan Isakov.

Some of the originals are just silly (the Shooter Jennings contribution, “F**k You (I’m Famous)” or boring (“Second Life Replay” by The Soundtrack of Our Lives). The soundtrack ends on a pathetic note with a dreadful version of “Home Sweet Home” by Tommy Lee and a chorus of others who probably want to remain anonymous.

The “Californication Season 4” soundtrack is a must for fans of cover tunes. Personally, I’m not finding a whole lot here that I’ll be coming back to anytime soon.

iPOD-worthy: 8, 9, 12

More info here. The soundtrack is out today on CD or in digital format.

Review: The Sound Of Growing Up “Drifting” [EP]

Rock
Boston based pop rock band The Sound Of Growing Up is releasing a new 5 song EP titled "Drifting" due out in February. The happy go lucky single, “The Kite” is present twice on the EP, as a full band recording as well as a stripped down acoustic home demo version. “The Kite” is a perfect pop rock song – bouncy and bright - just a joy to listen to over and over. I prefer the full band version, by the way. “Swing” has a similar sound and pace, but the horns add a dynamic that makes this one a winner too. The lead vocalist in this band is perfect for their sound – he’s got an indie rock streak, but can swing up to a pleasant falsetto. The gentle ukulele and atmospheric vocals make “Drifting” truly feel like it was recorded on a cloud, but the song is kind of boring for me. Finally, “I Have No Reason” is a worthy mid-tempo rocker – not as strong as the first two tracks, but no slouch either. Overall, a very promising EP worth checking out if you like Dashboard Confessional, Plain White T’s, or All-American Rejects.

The Sound Of Growing Up on MySpace. Facebook.

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

RAMOS HUGO “The Dream” (2008)

Two well-known musicians on the AOR scene teamed up to produce an astonishing record for Journey and The Storm lovers – RAMOS HUGO was definitely a hotly anticipated release in 2008. Funny thing is when I first listen to this album, I found it to be pretty decent - good but not great - then the third spin caught me off guard and told my mind that this one is actually a winner. The single problem with "The Dream" is the ultra-close comparison to Journey - sometimes you even think you're listening to a lost Journey record - but if you can overcome that issue, the beauty of each song eventually blossoms nicely and the whole bunch turns out to be a big treat for your ears.

Some spectacular tracks inside are "You're Not Alone", "All That I Wanted", "Bring Back This Love", "I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye", and "Tomorrow". Those tracks usually have memorable lines, sing along choruses, dense solos, and silky compositions. The title track rips "Don't Stop Believin'" a little bit but remains a good song. "When You Get Lonely" and "In The City" are good tracks as well, perhaps only "Fools Game" and "I Can Take You" are passable fillers in my book.

With flawless production and top notch songwriting, I highly praise this album. Ramos put up some colorful solos and Hugo unleashed his optimal vocal effort. Only a couple fillers keeps this album from a perfect rating but all in all, "The Dream" is one excellent AOR release from 2008.

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Rare Trax: Hoodoo Gurus "Good Times"

Every Saturday at BMF we present rare or deep tracks from my collection for your listening pleasure, or perhaps for your amusement!



This week’s track is "Good Times" by the Hoodoo Gurus from their album, "Blow Your Cool!". Recognize the backing vocals? They are supplied by The Bangles!

Review: Readymade Breakup “Readymade Breakup”

Rock
Reaching out to your ears from Asbury Park, NJ, modern rockers Readymade Breakup take it up a notch on their latest, self-titled CD. Described as a band that is a “sonic clash of four distinct personalities butting heads to create a sound that transcends its parts”, Readymade Breakup is readymade for the big time.

Produced by Steve Evetts (The Cure, Saves The Day, Dillinger Escape Plan), “Readymade Breakup” proves that the third time is a charm. This time out the band has hardened their sound, polished the hooks, and delivered the songs with passion. The powerful performances are augmented by a thick wall of sound that makes these tunes feel as if they were designed for the arena. “Inside All Along” introduces us to this matured sound – a slow burning winner of a tune. “Just” and “Waiting For You” are radio-friendly rockers with very sticky choruses. “There” gets off to an uncertain start, but there is a bridge in there worth waiting for. The intriguingly titled “Unzip My Face” is an in your face rocker complete with infectious backing vocals and handclaps in the chorus. The record closes with “Erased”, an exceptional 70s-styled gem with eerie verses reminding me of Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage”.

The nine tracks gracing “Readymade Breakup” clock in just under a half hour, but it is a spectacular way to spend 30 minutes. Blending the classic rock riffs of Collective Soul, the indie flavored style of Sloan, and the sincerity of Pearl Jam, Readymade Breakup is a thoroughly enjoyable mix.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9

Readymade Breakup on MySpace. Official site.

Listen to "Waiting For You"

Review: Redondo Beat “Meet Redondo Beat”

Powerpop
Multi-instrumentalist Roman Aul is Redondo Beat, and while he hails from Freigericht, Germany, you’d swear he lived a previous life in American during the late 50s and early 60s. The music of Redondo Beat is a remarkably good throwback to the Golden Era of Rock and Roll, heavily influenced by the classic sounds of The Beach Boys, Bobby Vee, and Dion And The Belmonts. Any of the 10 tracks from “Meet Redondo Beat” could easily be mistaken for something you’d hear off an old 45.

“Meet Redondo Beat” gets off to an exciting start with the fun and infectious song, “The Sweetest Sound”. This tune is probably the best example of how well Aul can marry the classic styles of yesteryear with today’s contemporary sounds. “The Spell I’m Under” thrills with verses that remind me of the smash hit “Runaway” by Del Shannon. “My Baby” is another one of my favorites, this one revealing a love for Raspberries-styled melodies and bubble gun pop from the 70s. “Full Moon Child” expertly blends a country base line and 60s riffs reminiscent of Credence Clearwater Revival. “Can’t Wait Until Saturday Night” is a peppy number that would have been a 50s high school dance standard back in the day.

The production is solid and Aul fleshes out the backbeat with delectable female backing vocals, tasteful guitar, and plenty of bouncy piano. Despite that the songs are inspired from a diverse assortment of original rock and roll artists, from surf rock to Doo Wop, the record is cohesive from start to finish. I imagine many of today’s music fans, however, may grow weary of the sound about halfway through. I found it to be a lot of fun. In the unlikely event that the Golden Era of Rock and Roll will rise again, Redondo Beat could be “the leader of the pack”.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 9

Redondo Beat on MySpace. Official site.

Listen to “The Sweetest Sound”

Book Report: “Grunge Seattle” by Justin Henderson

I was a graduate student sweating at the lab bench, trying to wrap my head around an experiment, feeling as if I were forcing a round peg into a square hole. Our amusingly spacey, long haired janitor was making his rounds and asked if we heard the news. As he tosses our trash into his supersized bin, he announced coldly that Kurt Cobain was dead. Suicide. I figured he was joking or had his facts wrong. Kurt Cobain dead? No way…he just revolutionized music.

The new book “Grunge Seattle” by Justin Henderson is a concise and easy read that paints a new perspective on the musical blitzkrieg that destroyed glam, pop metal, and the Spandex and hairspray industries in a single swoop. Henderson does not rehash the rise and demise of grunge, Nirvana and their brethren – enough has been written on those subjects to fill the Space Needle. Instead, he provides a unique look at the role Seattle played in shaping the bands that define the era, which had its origins in the late 1980s. Four archetype bands are covered extensively (Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden), with props given to lesser known – yet just as important - outfits along the way (Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone, and more).

Henderson knows Seattle – his book is focused and to the point, describing the very neighborhoods (complete with maps!) that spawned the grunge musicians. He explains how this atmosphere made it inevitable that these musicians would converge to write gritty and dirty material, which somehow emerged to strike a chord with millions of people beyond Jet City. Henderson also sheds light on why so many of the band members were destined for self-destruction. Fans of the grunge bands will delight in the trivia and Henderson’s revelations about the town that gave birth to them. The wider audience of music fans will appreciate Henderson’s take on how astute marketers can form a movement centered on a certain ineffable “sound”. The Seattle bands are often lumped together as “grunge”, yet had remarkably different musical influences (Nirvana borrowed heavily from The Pixies and Soundgarden wanted to be the next Led Zeppelin). Regardless, the brooding and dark material provided a common thread to tie them altogether.

Cobain’s death is often cited as the end of the short-lived grunge genre itself - another round peg that tried to fit into a square hole. But as Henderson implies, the mark left on the rock and roll landscape is permanent. Whether you despise the grunge movement or think it was the best thing to even happen to music, “Grunge Seattle” is informative and entertaining.

“Grunge Seattle” is a volume from the MusicPlace Series by Roaring Forties Press (www.roaringfortiespress.com). For more books in this series, including “Jimi Hendrix London”, check out the web site.

Review: Black Biscuit “Blueline”

Weird garage rock
Black Biscuit…sounds like my mom’s cooking. But no, “black biscuit” in this case is a slang term for a hockey puck, and the band of the same name is comprised of hockey players from Yakima, Washington. They have not only been playing hockey together since high school, but also have been playing music together since high school. Their first CD, “Blueline” was released in 2008 and has been described as “Buddy Holly meets Generation X”. The eleven songs on this CD are as strange and goofy as the titles: “Robbie the Robot”, “Surfin’ In Afghanistan”, “Hockey Goon”. Though offbeat, some of these tunes are a fun novelty to listen to, especially the aforementioned “Robbie the Robot”. Some classic rock references are incorporated into their alternative rock tunes, such as a clear Rolling Stones inspired riff in “Don’t Touch My Cigarettes”. The Buddy Holly comparison comes out in the 50s flavored melody in “Say Goodbye”. Unfortunately, the low production value, iffy vocals, and mediocre performances make this a tough listen in most places. But if amateur garage rock is your thing, you might score with Black Biscuit.

Black Biscuit on MySpace. Official site.

Listen to “Robbie the Robot”

Review: Arthur “Watch The Years Crawl By”

Rock
Arthur is a side project of current and past members of the Bremerton, WA punk band MxPx. Lead by the versatile Mike “Arthur” Herrera, Arthur is a clear departure from MxPx into more mainstream pop punk, such as Blink-182 or Jimmy Eat World. Arthur first came onto the scene in 1999 with an EP entitled “Loneliness Is Bliss”, which incidentally is now available for the first time as a digital download at the official web site below. “Watch The Years Crawl By” is the long awaited full-length debut from Arthur.

Like MxPx and Tumbledown, Arthur helps to prove that almost everything Mike Herrera touches turns to gold. The 12 songs on this hotly anticipated side project have a very melodic appeal and lend themselves well to contemporary radio. The boys are restrained compared to the raw energy of MxPx, but not so restrained that their passion for the music isn’t felt. And some tunes, like “Heartache”, channel the high octane pace of their punk roots. “Watch The Years Crawl By” has no throwaways or filler, as each song is likeable. The tunes are quick and to the point, getting to the hook fast. In some cases, almost too fast…the song is so short it sounds more like an idea that needed to be fleshed out further. Highlights include “Cold Outside”, “America”, “Heartache”, and “Still Haven’t Reached You”. There is quite the power ballad in “To Have and To Hold” that I think most people would enjoy as well.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12

Arthur on MySpace. Official site.

Listen to “America”

Review: Tiff Jimber “Burning At Both Ends”

Fans of piano rock rejoice – a new queen of the ivories is emerging to tickle your fancy. Tiff Jimber has conjured up a style infusing influences such as Billy Joel, John Mayer, Nina Simone, and Adele. Her 2009 record, “Burning At Both Ends” contains ten enchanting tracks that will make you want to dance fast…or slow.

“Ol’ Joanna” captures the essence of Tiff Jimber at her best – a tantalizing piano-driven verse sandwiching a thumping, tremendously catchy chorus. It is likely the song Sara Bareilles wishes she could have written. “City Life” is similar in style with a lyric many will relate to, made memorable by an irresistible sing-a-long chorus. Things cool off for a bit, but she comes back strong with another infectious number called “Love That You Need”. “Garage” is a subdued ‘don’t give up’ anthem, probably a reference to the fact that she had to live in a garage to pursue her musical ambitions. The record ends with the title track – another upbeat inspirational piece encouraging you to go that extra mile for your dreams. In short, half the record is excellent and the other half is good. Tiff Jimber could knock it out of the park if she brings each and every song up the bar she’s set with the highlights mentioned above. Her voice is warm and clear, with a girl next door quality, but her music would benefit from more elaborate harmonies and more impressive vocal stunts.

“Burning At Both Ends” didn’t quite burn up the charts, but these songs display a serious artist in the making and were making me optimistic to hear her future material. Her new single is a cover version of Taio Cruz's dance hit "Dynamite" - available now on iTUNES. Sorry to say it doesn’t do much for me.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 6, 7, 10

Tiff Jimber on MySpace. Official site.

Listen to “Ol’ Joanna”

Review: The Early Strike “Ten Outta Ten”

The Early Strike is a four piece pop punk band hailing from Southern California – “Ten Outta Ten” is their sophomore record. The distinguishing feature separating The Early Strike from the countless other pop punk bands out there is that they have both a male and female singer (Ryan Shaw and Brit Joyce), often trading lines in the same song.

The band is young and as one would expect, their music is designed for the young. The performances are solid and consistent with the genre, and the 11 tunes are fast paced the whole way (clocking in just over 30 minutes). Producer David J. Holman (No Doubt, Bush) did a terrific job capturing the energy of the band. But to my ears, it is hard to tell one song from the next and, aside from the male-female duo vocals, the band really doesn’t do much musically or lyrically to stand out from the herd.

The Early Strike is probably going to strike out with most music fans, but they should resonate for newbies who haven’t heard or grown tired of the pop punk formula yet. Check them out if you like All Time Low, Something Corporate, or New Found Glory. If you’re interested, I’d like to point your attention to “Real Man Show” (video below) and “Reality Check”. “Ten Outta Ten” will be officially released February 15, 2011, but is available now on iTUNES.

The Early Strike on MySpace. Official site.

Check out a video for “Real Man Show”:

The Early Strike - Real Man Show

The Early Strike | Myspace Music Videos

Powerpopaholic: The Top Ten Power Pop albums for 2010

Check out Powerpopaholic's picks for best powerpop records of 2010!


Powerpopaholic: The Top Ten Power Pop albums for 2010: "Finally. My year end top ten and more... The video gives you a quick 30 second clip from each album and then we see to my remaining favorites..."

BMF Best of 2010

Here is a list of artists that I feel REALLY stood out of the crowd this year. Each one has been reviewed here on BMF, so be sure to click their link on the right panel to read more. See you in 2011!

ROCK:
Ingram Hill "Look Your Best"

Honorable mention:
Joshua Ketchmark "List Of Regrets"
Crash Kings “Crash Kings”
Megan McCormick “Honest Words”
Quakers On Probation “Every Living Thing”
Archie Powell and the Exports “Skip Work”
Son Of A Bad Man (Shawn Fisher) [EP]

HARD ROCK:
Kopek “White Collar Lies”

POP ROCK:
Melee “The Masquerade”

Honorable mention:
Dot Dot Dot “II” [EP]

MELODIC ROCK AND AOR:
Brian Howe “Circus Bar”
Unruly Child “Worlds Collide”

Honorable mention:
Treat “Coup de Grace”
Nelson “Lightning Strikes Twice”
Harry Hess/First Signal “First Signal”
Blanc Faces "Falling from The Moon"
Bucket and Co. “Guitars, Beers, and Tears”

GLAM ROCK:
Wig Wam "Non Stop Rock & Roll"

POWERPOP:
Timmy Sean “Songs From and Inspired By Noisewater"
The Posies “Blood/Candy”

Honorable mention:
IKE “Tie The Knot With All That You Got”
Taylor Locke and The Roughs "Grain and Grape"
Radio Days "C'est La Vie"
The Riffbackers “The Curtain Shop And Alterations”
Justin Kline "Triangle" [EP]

SINGER/SONGWRITER:
Neil Nathan "The Distance Calls"

Honorable mention:
Ted Garber “American Rail”
Sara Radle "Four"
Matt White “It's The Good Crazy”
White Buffalo “Prepare For Black and Blue” [EP]

QUIRKY INDIE POP:
The Corner Laughers "Ultraviolet Garden"

HOLIDAY:
Rockin’ The Mistletoe (SideBMusic)

MAJOR LABEL:
My Chemical Romance “Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys”
Stone Temple Pilots "Stone Temple Pilots"
Dashboard Confessional "Alter The Ending"
Sara Bareilles “Kaleidoscope Heart”
Gin Blossoms “No Chocolate Cake”
Weezer “Hurley”

Review: Calico Brothers “Road of Bones” [EP]

New Zealand's Calico Brothers are back with a new five song EP entitled “Road of Bones”, following their notable country tinged pop rock release, “Tell It To The Sun” (review here). The tunes gracing the new EP carry on the band’s tradition and love of harmonious acoustic based pop.

The subdued “Hold On Love” begins the EP – a haunting and beautiful fingerpicked tune that allows the pristine vocals to shine. The harmonies from the brothers Calico are most inviting. “Sick In Love” is more upbeat, and the boys add in a dingy electric guitar and hand claps to add a new dynamic to the atmosphere – sounds very Traveling Wilburys. “Lonely Christmas (Hallelujah)” is a timely piece that will provide a refreshing change of pace in anyone’s winter playlist. But with a well balanced mix of acoustic and electric guitar, “Rock Rose” may just be my favorite on the EP.

Don’t miss the Calico Brothers if you like The Jayhawks, The Thorns, and Grapes of Wrath.

Calico Brothers on MySpace.

Listen to "Rock Rose":

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

VAN HALEN "Balance" (1995)

"Balance" reflected a balanced composition between Van Halen's darker edge and lighter side. This album depicted a lot of expressive statements in the lyrics and revived some old riffs and arrangements - most songs are embalmed with a heavy metal touch with a couple of ballads and interludes. Now onto evaluate the quality of the songs: I found that the latter half of the album is slightly inferior, downgrading the whole album from the perfect rating, but overall Van Halen did an amazing job, especially looking back at 1995, which was a tough year for the glam and hard rock scene.

"The Seventh Seal" and "Don't Tell Me" are examples of Van Halen playing in the darker territory. "Can't Stop Lovin' You" and "Not Enough" are radio hits that I found to be lovable and fresh to this date. "Amsterdam", which pictures the sex and drugs of the city, has groovy guitar and an infectious chorus. "Big Money" is a jazzy jam with a frantic rock and roll rhythm. The intro to "Aftershock" will remind you of Metallica, and this song later evolves into a superb hard rock track. The remaining songs are decent but with several unimportant instrumental fillers, "Balance" should only enjoy a maximum of 4 stars from me.

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Rare Trax - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy "Mr. Heatmiser"

Every Saturday at BMF we present rare or deep tracks from my collection for your listening pleasure, or perhaps for your amusement!



This week’s track is by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy from their 2004 album, "Everything You Want For Christmas". The popular modern swing band does a great interpretation of "Mr. Heatmiser" from the children's classic, "The Year Without A Santa Claus".

Review: TAG “Forward”

TAG is the new musical vehicle by Jersey rocker John Taglieri, who is no stranger to the stage. With years of continuous touring and seven solo albums under his belt (his latest EP was reviewed here), music has been his life. Taglieri has won numerous pop rock awards and shared the stage with heavy hitter acts such as Edwin McCain, The Gin Blossoms, Gavin DeGraw, and Sister Hazel. His new band is rounded out by longtime co-writer and guitarist Brad Whitley, Tom Darby (keys, harp, guitar), Dave Willard (bass) and Rob “Action” Jackson (drums).

For those of you familiar with Taglieri’s music, TAG is undoubtedly going to please you. For those of you who aren’t yet acquainted, Taglieri is a Springsteen-Bon Jovi hybrid - a good time rock and roller who is one part bar band and another part arena rocker. TAG provides a new forum to do the same thing he’s been doing for years – consistently belting out memorable and fun pop rockers. The band has an excellent chemistry, providing moments for each individual to shine while teaming up for effective ear pleasing harmonies.

“After Farewell” could not be a better choice to start off the record, with its crunchy verses leading up to a fiery chorus that will be stuck in your head for days. “After Farewell” is a fine example of the band’s full potential. “Breathe” is a slow burning rocker with a touch of blues and another highly melodic chorus that will leave you breathless. TAG slows things down a bit with power ballad “Fly”, a beautiful acoustic-driven slice of AOR with electric guitars crashing down at all the right spots. The next few tracks go into classic bar band territory – vintage Taglieri, but not as melodic as the other songs. Despite its curious title, the mid-tempo “The Lives of Splattered Flies” is an effective mix of alternative rock and AOR. “With You I Want To Be” is another ace power ballad, its haunting tone creating a welcome dynamic at this point in the record. These tunes help build a strong finish for “Forward”, but the unremarkable cover of “Drive” (by Incubus) ends the record on a disappointing note.

TAG kicked off a midwest tour on November 26, which will be followed by a cross-country US tour in January. “Forward” is available now.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9

TAG on MySpace. Official site.

Check out a video: