Review: Sass Jordan - From Dusk Til Dawn

Sass Jordan - From Dusk Til Dawn
2010, RBE Music/Kindling Music/Fontana

Sass Jordan never goes away. The owner of twelve Top-40 singles in Canada (including two in the Top-10, keeps finding ways to express herself in the arts. The star of the off-Broadway hit Love Janis also served as a judge for six years on Canadian Idol. Her music has been featured on numerous television shows and soundtracks (including an iconic duet with Joe Cocker on The Bodyguard soundtrack. Jordan's toured with Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Van Halen, Carlos Santana and Cocker, but always returns to her own solo performing as the root of her creativity. On March 16, 2010, Jordan releases her eighth album, From Dusk Til Dawn. Rather than coasting comfortably at a point her career when the Juno-Award winning songwriter might, Jordan sparks with the vibrancy that turned heads even back in her days with Montreal’s The Pinups.

From Dusk 'Til Dawn opens with the delicious Blues/Rock of What I Need. Jordan steeps herself in the roots of old school Rhythm & Blues with the sort of strong rock vocal performance she's become known for. It's a knock out track that could be a big winner over the radios and at the award shows. Fell In Love Again goes with a classic Motown feel. You could almost here Mary Wells digging into this one, and Jordan does a great job with it. Awake is a gorgeous ballad full of regret; a song about getting ready to move on. For a rocker with something of a rough edge to her voice, Jordan is surprisingly polished and nuanced on the ballads on From Dusk 'Til Dawn. Jordan's everywoman act continues on Why Did You?, where she slips in Americana shoes amidst a big hook and catchy arrangement.

Lonely blends Country, Blues and Rock, ala Bonnie Raitt. This is another tune that could conceivably be a big hit over the airwaves. Jordan goes for an almost Appalchian feel on Matter Of Time, using very basic song structure and minimalist arrangement accented by great vocal harmonies. The song is well written and expertly performed. Jordan aces her cover of Tom Waits' Ol' 55, going for a highly fluid and smooth rendition, which works wonderfully well with and in contrast to Jordan's rock diva rasp. Stronger is great Pop songwriting; perhaps not as elemental as the other songs presented here, but certainly a decent offering. Jordan closes with the folky Home Again, a solid closer that sees Jordan adding to her versatility as a performer.

I remember the days of Racine and Rats, when Jordan was challenging Lee Aaron for the title of Miss Thing on the Canadian rock charts. Jordan hasn't lost the edge that made her a hit in Canada back then, but as an artist she's matured; adding nuance and class to a dynamic voice and an ear for melody that goes well with her ability to blow the roof off a room. From Dusk 'Til Dawn isn't so much a mellowing of Jordan's style or sound as it is a broadening of horizons. It would appear several years of judging the performances of others has made Jordan even more astute in making her own musical choices. On From Dusk 'Til Dawn she executes nearly flawlessly without giving up an iota of the energy or passion that always gave Jordan her Sass.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Sass Jordan at http://www.sassjordan.com/ or www.myspace.com/sassjordan. From Dusk Til Dawn sees its US release on March 16, 2010. Expect wide availability, if you simply can’t wait, the album was released in the Fall of 2009 in Canada, and is available through numerous resources on the web, including MapleMusic.com.

Review: Social Code - Rock N Roll

Social Code - Rock N Roll
2010, Fifth Season Music

Edmonton, Alberta is the home to Social Code, the quartet led by vocalist Travis Nesbitt that has created waves in the Canadian Rock scene since their 2004 debut, A Year At The Movies. Social Code return with their third album (and US debut), Rock N Roll on March 23, 2010. Social Code is already impacting heavily on Canadian Radio with the opening single, Satisfied, and the future looks very bright indeed.

Talk about melting your face. Social Code doesn't just hit a home run with Rock N Roll, they tear the cover off the ball and pound the cork core into smithereens. Opening with the title track, Social Code eschews cliché by thoroughly failing to break into the big rock sound you expect to explode part way through the song. Travis Nesbitt’s tortured, needful vocal is more a song of longing than celebration; raw in emotion and powerful. It's a surprising and compelling start, and is likely to be talked about as one of the best Rock songs of the year. Nothing Left To Lose will put to rest any questions about whether Social Code is for real, ripping into a big Classic Rock sound that's part Aerosmith, part Whitesnake and part Bob Seger. Add in the big rock chorus and Arena-rock harmonies and you have something bordering on an instant classic.

Satisfied is an honest, up-front one night stand song. It's full of the testosterone-laden braggadocio and big hooks; a well-written tune with a high commercial ceiling. Perfect Grave is a sharp left turn, focusing on the death of a loved one at their own hand. It's a song of mourning as well as a statement of strength and perseverance. Creed fans will love the big open sound, which does sound a bit formulaic, but the content is meaty enough to avoid a purely "commercial rock" label. Social Code hits radio gold on Buy Buy Buy, a highly danceable dose of Rock N Roll that get you moving from it's opening notes and will stick with you.

Fight For Love is a strong Rocker with real Mix Tape potential; a romantic hip-shaker that's just great songwriting. You Never Know You Got Until It's Gone reminded me a bit of Sammy Hagar-era Van Halen because of the guitar work. The song itself is built on a great melody and a big hook, and is likely to be a fan favorite. I'm Not Okay goes a bit above and beyond the usual rock ballad; dealing with heartbreak in unvarnished terms. The songwriting here is surprisingly good, producing a song that's not only memorable but meaningful. Social Code close with Too Late For Tomorrow, a bit of a comedown from the rest of Rock N Roll, but decent for all that. I guess you could call it a safe, soft landing.

Social Code manages to put forward a highly commercial sound on Rock N Roll without sounding like they're trying to. There's a talent to this that some artists simply possess. It can't be taught or acquired, it's more of a touch. Whatever you want to call it, Social Code has it and exploits it thoroughly on Rock N Roll. It's hard to predict the next ten-plus months, but it's hard to imagine Social Code not landing on year-end lists with Rock N Roll (the album), and if there were ever a breakout Rock tune waiting to happen, it's Rock N Roll (the song). Make sure you introduce yourself to Social Code. I have a feeling they're going to be sticking around the party for a long time to come.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Social Code at http://www.socialcodemusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/socialcode. Rock N Roll drops March 23, 2010. You can pre-order a copy from Amazon.com, but expect wide availability across traditional and virtual retail as well digitally.

Review: Eldorado - Golden

Eldorado - Golden
2009, Dejame Decirte

When we undertook reviewing En Busca De Eldorado last year we'd never heard of Eldorado before. Working primarily in Spain, El Dorado is something of a mystery West of the Atlantic and East of the Pacific, but that's not going to last. El Dorado is firmly rooted in a classic rock sound of the 1970's and 1980's, but with fresh songwriting and an approach welcome in commercial circles in 2009. The band's passion and sound drew in producer Richard Chycki (Aerosmith, Rush, Mick Jagger) for En Busca De Eldorado, and he returns to the production chair for Eldorado's sophomore album, Golden.

Golden opens with La Casa De Las 7 Chimeneas, an upbeat rock tune that reminds me a bit of the 1990's rock band The Men. Eldorado then launches into a bit of insanity in the form of a driven Rock N Roller with a classic bent. The song is a fun listen but you better be holding on. Atlantico is a sneaky song that sounds simple and straightforward the firs time through; but the more you listen the more the song opens up and reveals a deeper complexity that sucks you in. While not the best songwriting on the disc, I Don't Need No Doctor is a good, old-fashioned tail-kicker that's certain to get packed houses to their feet. El Desertor comes in a close second for best writing on the disc with it's laid-back Pop/Rock, but gets knocked out of the box by La Gran Evasion. If there's any one song on the disc that could make a real run at Modern and Classic Rock charts it's this one. Tarot TV is an odd musical diversion featuring the most wicked guitar work on the disc and leads into the closing number, Meteoro. Meteoro is a decent enough tune, but was perhaps not the best choice as a closing number. The song is almost anti-climactic after all that's come before.

Golden opens up a can on listeners and they'll be coming back for more. This is a band ready to break and break big; all it takes is the right marriage of opportunity and luck. Everything else is in place here. Vocalist Jesus Trujillo is an ideal front man, and Eldorado is as tight as a band can be. They'll be touring Spain in support of Eldorado this Fall and Winter, with a sojourn to the United States in the spring. Catch them when they come to town!

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Eldorado at http://www.eldoradorockband.com/ or www.myspace.com/eldoradorockband. You can purchase Golden through Eldorado’s website.

Review: Foreigner - Can't Slow Down

Foreigner - Can't Slow Down
2009, Rhino/Atlantic

During the 1980's, few bands were as prevalent on both Pop and Classic Rock radio as Foreigner. Hits such as Cold As Ice, I Want To Know What Love Is, Feels Like The First Time, Urgent and Hot Blooded were as familiar to music fans as a song can be. When then-vocalist Lou Gramm departed the band I lost track of Foreigner and was frankly surprised to see that they had a new album coming out in 2009. Can't Slow Down hits shelves on September 29, 2009 as a three-disc (2 CDs/1 DVD) collection available exclusively at Walmart stores. For any surprise I may have had the fact of the release, it was an even bigger surprise, and pleasure, to discover that Can't Slow Down is a surprisingly vibrant and relevant Pop/Rock album.

Disc One of Can't Slow Down consists of thirteen new tracks; a mix of rockers and ballads that have the same sort of hungry energy that Foreigner had when they first broke into the music business. The title track is a brilliant bit of Rock N Roll and a tribute to NASCAR inspired by Foreigner's performance at the 2009 Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Can't Slow Down will get a lot of play from NASCAR and their fans, and might just be the best driving song since Sammy Hagar's I Can't Drive 55. In Pieces depicts a relationship at a crossroads. Things have fallen apart, but the narrator is asking where to from here? This isn't a kiss off song, but one full of love and acceptance of the present that still holds some hope for the future. When It Comes To Love is much more melancholy, looking back on a relationship past and what might have been, having realized that what he had is what he wants; the perfect song for the lovelorn.

Longtime fans of Foreigner will be more than pleased with Give Me A Sign, which sounds like it could have been lifted right off one of their early albums, and I'll Be Home Tonight also has their signature sound in a ballad that has serious chart potential. My favorite track on the disc, however, is a number called Too Late. This too has the classic Foreigner sound, and a vivacity that is striking. The chorus will get stuck in your head and stay there all day long. If I had to pick one song to release as a single from the album it would be As Long As I Live, a classic ballad that's certain mix-tape magic. Adult-Contemporary and even Pop radio could make this a huge hit. Rockers Living In A Dream, Ready and Angel Tonight also will be certain crowd pleasers, as is the ballad I Can't Give Up. Can't Slow Down closes out the new material with Fool For You Anyway, a soul-flavored Rock ballad that might have even more potential than As Long As I Live.

Disc Two consists of remixes of some of Foreigner's most famous songs, done by Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith, Buckcherry, Guitar Hero) and Anthony Focx (Guitar Hero). Hits such as Feels Like The First Time, Cold As Ice, Hot Blooded, Head Games, I Want To Know What Love Is and Jukebox Hero get retooled to clean up the sound of the sometimes thirty-year old master recordings. The DVD included in the package features live performances of some of Foreigner's biggest hits, including performances from their most recent European tour. Also included is a documentary about the making of Can't Slow Down and footage of the Walmart shareholders meeting where the deal was made to release this album exclusively.

Aside from a clip on the DVD that panders a bit too much to the Walmart shareholders' egos, Can't Slow Down is perhaps the most exciting release from Foreigner since the late 1980's. You never know what you're going to get when one of these long acts releases new material, but Foreigner is as vital and relevant today as they were twenty-five years ago. The re-tooling of the classic material simply improves on the sound quality and definition of the recordings, a treatment they should have received some time ago. Foreigner has proved that they Can't Slow Down; let's hope that never changes.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Foreigner at http://www.foreigneronline.com/ or www.myspace.com/foreignermusic. Can’t Slow Down drops on September 29, 2009. You can pre-order your copy at Amazon.com.

Review: Zydecosis - Zydeco All Night

Zydecosis - Zydeco All Night
2009, Vinyl Records

Zydecosis is the musical brainchild of Houma, Louisiana's Steve Junot (guitar, vocals). He's joined by prodigious accordion player Chubby Carrier, and Lupe Valdeviez, Jr. (drums) with special guests Waylon Thibodeaux on fiddle and Tony Hall (Harry Connick Jr., the Neville Brothers, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris) on bass. Zydecosis plays classic rock standards in Zydeco style, and reminds listeners that Rock N Roll was meant to be fun. Zydeco All Night, the band's debut CD, is good old-fashioned party music. Covers they may be, but at their best Zydecosis restores the spark that these well-worn classics once had.

Zydeco All Night opens with Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love. To be honest this was my least favorite track on the disc, mostly due to the verses (the chorus is very well done). Particularly in the first verse there's a feeling of separation between the vocalist and the instruments that's a bit jarring. Each segment is well done but they just don't seem to mix well on this track. Talk Dirty To Me (Poison) is a whole other matter; this one is a cross of early Elvis Presley (Don't Be Cruel) and Zydeco and works wonderfully well. Aerosmith fans may well bristle at the idea of Walk This Way being interpreted as a Zydeco tune, but once again the song sounds like it was never meant to be anything else. Satisfaction (Rolling Stones) is fairly close to the original in spite of the different instrumentation. Perhaps the biggest treat of the disc is Zydecosis' take on Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls. It helps that Queen themselves never forgot that Rock N Roll was fun and entertaining. This is a song that translates well into most any genre, but Zydecosis seems to have a special affection for this song that shines through in their performance.

Baba O'Reilly (The Who) sounds more like a country arrangement. Junot provides a great vocal but the arrangement lacks the life and energy elsewhere apparent on Zydeco All Night. I Want You To Want Me (Cheap Trick) is presented in a live track with a small but appreciate crowd listening in. The arrangement here just doesn't carry the urgency of the original, or that the song seems to demand. Musically it’s aesthetically pleasing but just lacks the oomph you might expect. Some Kind Of Wonderful (The Drifters) is presented in a sparse arrangement (bass, drums, harmony vocals), adding guitar on the second verse. It's not Zydeco, but is full of the joy that the song's lyrics imply. Your feet will be tapping and don't be surprised if you feel the urge to dance. Zydecosis closes out with Bad Company's Feel Like Making Love in a memorable rendition that might just be better than the original.

Zydeco All Night is an uneven but memorable effort. At the top of their game Zydecosis sounds like one of the best party rock bands there is. Steve Junot is a plus vocalist who's very composed and sings with a lot of heart. Chubby Carrier is inspired on the squeeze box and really drives the album. Most of the songs here are memorable. A few tracks are well done musically but lack the pizzazz or zest heard elsewhere. On the whole, Zydeco All Night is a very welcome project that I recommend.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Zydecosis at www.myspace.com/zydecosis or http://www.zydecosis.com/, where you can purchase a copy of Zydeco All Night. If it’s digital you want, you can download the album from iTunes.

Review: Street Sweeper Social Club - Street Sweeper Social Club

Street Sweeper Social Club – Street Sweeper Social Club
2009, Street Sweeper Social Club/WMG-ILG

Dateline: 1986. Rock superstars Aerosmith release a groundbreaking single and video, reprising their hit Walk This Way with the help of Run DMC. While there are perhaps other examples out there, this is perhaps one of the first commercially successful hybridizations of Hard Rock and the then nascent art form called Rap. The two forms have been blended together over the years many times, but it’s always been something of an uneasy relationship. Then in 2009, a band called Street Sweeper Social Club comes along with their self-titled debut album and wipes the slate clean with a mix of heavy rock and rap so new; so fresh you’ll wonder how the two genres ever existed separately. Guitarist/bassist Tom Morello (founding member of both Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave), producer/lyricist/vocalist Boots Riley (The Coup) and drummer Stanton Moore (Galactic) have created a sound that keeps the heavy edge and bombast of Rock N Roll while mixing in the lyrical panache that Riley is known for from his work with The Coup.

Street Sweeper Social Club opens with Fight! Smash! Win!, featuring dazzling rhymes and a wonderfully heavy guitar line. This should be gold for Modern Rock, Urban and Top-40 programmers. Morello shows off some great melodic guitar work on 100 Little Curses, in an arrangement that sounds like it might have walked out of the late-1970’s or early 1980’s. The Oath is a song of revolution, following the distinctive social justice vein that pervades Street Sweeper Social Club. Pointed barbs are blended with humor and poignant turns of phrase fit for mass consumption throughout the album. The Squeeze traces the line between poverty and violence in what starts out almost as a children’s song before breaking into a heavy rock/rap.

Clap For The Killers is the most sonically interesting track on the disc, as Morello gets his freak on with some seriously deranged riffs and progressions. Good Morning, Mrs. Smith sounds a bit like a classic rock tune done up with some serious guitar riffs. Other highlights include Somewhere In The World It’s Midnight, Megablast, Promenade and Nobody Moves (Til We Say Go).

Don’t be surprised if Street Sweeper Social Club is one of the biggest new acts of 2009. Tom Morello and Boots Riley have outdone themselves with a smart, intriguing and musically exciting album. There’s no doubt Street Sweeper Social Club will make the cut on “Best of 2009” lists, but don’t be surprised if this album has a Grammy nomination or two in its future. Street Sweeper Social Club is essential listening; a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc. Get it.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Street Sweeper Social Club at http://www.streetsweepersocialclub.com/, www.myspace.com/streetsweepersocialclub or www.twitter.com/streetsweep. Street Sweeper Social Club hits shelves on June 16, 2009, and is available through Amazon.com, as a download through iTunes, or wherever music is sold.

Review: Cailyn/Dani - True Lies And Other Fairytales

Cailyn/Dani - True Lies And Other Fairytales
2009, Land Of Oz Music

Cailyn Lloyd is back, this time as part of duo Cailyn/Dani with powerhouse vocalist Dani Daly. We reviewed Lloyd’s previous release, New World In Blue, last year, finding her to be very talented with a six string. The pairing with Daly appears to have awakened Lloyd’s creative process on a new level, and it shows on True Lies And Other Fairytales. Cailyn Lloyd shows off her guitar wizardry in fine style, and Dani Daly is a reminder of what a female rock vocalist should sound like.

True Lies And Other Fairytales opens with Heartland, featuring the characteristically amazing guitar work of Lloyd and the power rock vocals of Dani. The song itself is decent, but the two dynamic performers help the song transcend its own limitations. Still... You Turn Me On is a lyrically awkward look at love in a long term relationship. Portrait (He Knew) finds the vocal line stuck in a bit of a rut. Dani makes the best of a less than perfect line with a strong performance, and Cailyn is as great as ever on guitar. The cover of Aerosmith's Dream On lacks the oomph or urgency of the original. The Hendrix cover, Wind Cries Mary, plays almost like a country tune here. Blind Faith's Can't Find My Way is the standout track, featuring amazing lyric guitar work.

Cailyn is a wonder on the axe, and Dani is quite an impressive rock vocalist with a big sound. True Lies And Other Fairy Tales is a definitive step forward over New World In Blue. There are still some rough edges here and there, but on the whole this is a very listenable and enjoyable recording.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Cailyn Lloyd and and Cailyn/Dani at www.myspace.com/cailynrox or http://www.cailynrox.com/. You can purchase a copy of True Lies And Other Fairytales at www.cdbaby.com/cd/cailyndani, or you can download it from iTunes.

Review: Max Morgan - Interrupting The Silence

Max Morgan - Interrupting The Silence
2009, Chime Entertainment

Max Morgan has already been heard all over American media outlets and his debut CD hasn't even been released yet. Placement on televisions shows such as Gray's Anatomy and Private Practice; on networks such as The NFL Network and ESPN; and on websites such as Seventeenmagazine.com, AOL Music and NYPost.com have made Morgan omnipresent of late. No one doubts Morgan has a good publicist, but a publicist just pries the door open. Morgan has garnered so much attention and press because he is an uncommonly talented and charismatic singer/songwriter/musician. The Liverpool, England native and Southern California resident brings a highly melodic and lyric vocal sound to a broad cross section of musical styles on his debut CD, Interrupting The Silence. Produced by Marc Tanner (Aerosmith, Madonna, The Calling), Interrupting The Silence is a bright comet currently circling the pop/rock scene; when it lands on March 31, 2009, the impact will be amazing.

Interrupting The Silence opens with the plaintive and melodic Loneliest Man In The World. As songs go this is up there in the Paul McCartney stratosphere of epic melodies. In another era this song would have been a multi-platinum single. Morgan has the sweet vocal essence of Chris Martin and the poise to deliver this song like an epitaph in waiting. Sold Out To The Scene brings a little 1980's pop/glam to the album in a crossover dance/rock package that is unforgettable before pulling on your heart strings with the gorgeously sad Wait For Me. Morgan follows up with the big time guitar rock anthem Suffer, which is a great deal more upbeat than the title may imply.

Morgan stomps and howls through hair rocker Ya Better Believe with all of the machismo and flamboyance that defined the more over-the-top front men of the 1980's. Having shown so many sides, Morgan settles next into the dramatic Nobody's Coming To My Rescue. Not since Freddie Mercury has any vocalist in Rock N Roll shown the breadth and stylistic vigor to tackle so many divergent styles and sounds and do them all successfully. Max Morgan has that kind of talent and appeal, and don't be surprised if this guy reaches the pinnacle of the rock world at some point in his career. Other highlights include Trouble, Don't Stop, the urgent rocker Fell and Prayer For No One.

Max Morgan is a rare, rare talent. It's impossible to say how things will pan out in the long run, but Morgan could be one of those once-in-a-generation talents who will transcend stardom to the point of attaining icon status. The musical and vocal talent is here, as is the charisma to reach out across the various voids that exist between artist and listener. Interrupting The Silence is a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc, and is the sort of debut that can be very difficult to top. But something tells me Morgan can and will.

You can learn more about Max Morgan at http://www.maxmorgan.com/ or www.myspace.com/maxmorganband. Interrupting The Silence will be released on March 31, 2009. You can pre-order copies of the CD through Amazon.com.

Review: Resin - Truth Be Told

Resin – Truth Be Told
2006, Resin

Massachussetts-based Residn are following in the footsteps of Boston icons Aerosmith, Godsmack and Staind. After barnstorming the Northeastern United States for the past couple of years, the band has perfected a sound that ranges from melodic pop/metal to thrash, covering all points in between. Resin’s debut CD, Truth Be Told shows off the charismatic vocal style of Ron Dallaire (sometimes compared to David Lee Roth for flamboyance) and the masterful guitar skills of Pat Pacheco on top of a killer rhythm section (Dave O’Brien – bass; Steve Smith – drums). Resin paces through heavy and light, poignant and prickly in one of the most wide-ranging and deliberate rock albums I’ve heard so far this year.

Truth Be Told opens with Song F, a great driving rock song with big guitar sound. Song F just sets the stage for Not For You. Not For You is a revelatory moment for guitarist Pat Pacheco as he shreds his way through rhythms and sounds that are practically patentable. No offense to Dallaire, but I got so caught up in Pacheco’s guitar on this song that I couldn’t even tell you what the song is about, and I listened to it several times. Resin takes a much more pop/rock turn on songs like Tomorrow, In The End and Done To Me, any of which could have commercial impact, but the gem of the album is Feel. On Feel, Resin achieve the perfect balance of heavy metal sound and hook-heavy pop rock. For A Reason is an interesting change up from Resin, opening as an acoustic piece that allows Dallaire to let the soul loose in his voice. Even once the heavy guitars come in this song retains its gentler qualities. Resin closes out the album in interesting fashion. The second to last song is the heavy-bordering-on-thrash Down The Line, breaking any sense of pop serenity that might have crept into Truth Be Told before launching into the Creed-esque anthem All My Life.

Resin seems equally comfortable with their heavy and melodic sides on Truth Be Told. Even the harder-edge songs on the album have a strong melodic pop sensibility, while even the softest of songs retains an edge. Dallaire isn’t my favorite singer, but he sure can sell a song, and Pacheco is just amazing on guitar. Rhythm sections often get overlooked, but they are the heart and soul of any band, and due of O’Brien and Smith is as good as they come. On the whole, Truth Be Told is a strong debut that should have broad commercial appeal. Resin manages to sound at times a bit like Metallica, Soundgarden or Creed, but in the end seem to have found an interesting and unique band persona that envelopes all of these myriad influences and turns them into something new. The future looks bright for Resin.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Resin at http://www.resinrocks.com/. You can purchase a copy of Truth Be Told at www.cdbaby.com/cd/resinrocks.

Review: El Dorado - En Busca De Eldorado

Eldorado – En Busca De Eldorado

2008, Eldorado

Madrid has a secret, and it’s one that won’t keep. Madrid might just be home to the best new classic metal band around. Fans of Rainbow, Deep Purple and even Whitesnake will want to take note, Eldorado is the real deal. Combining a killer rhythm section with soaring guitar riffs, big choruses and a charismatic lead vocalist in Jesus Trujillo, Eldorado has found a winning Rock N Roll formula. Their debut album, En Busca De Eldorado, was produced by Richard Chycki whose worked with such august artists as Rush, Seal, Aerosmith, Sum 41, Kid Rock, Def Leppard, Pink and Dolores O’Riordan.

Eldorado mixes heavy blues, rock and classic 1970’s metal sounds into a musical patois that is both comfortably familiar and at the same time new and edgy. En Busca De Eldorado is eight tracks deep, with seven in Spanish and one in English. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, the musical language here is universal. En Busca De Eldorado opens with Abril, which has a real Def Leppard feel to the verse. Crushingly melodic guitars drive this song home while Trujillo goes soul-metal in a performance that is highly memorable. Guitarist Nano makes the point that he’s a force to be reckoned here with some incredibly hot soloing. Whereas Abril has a brooding core, El Final springs out of the gates with a lively beat and takes to the open road. Eldorado is a well-oiled machine here, rocking for all they’re worth. The harmonies on the chorus will hearken back to a time when most hard rock acts could really sing.

Un Mal Presentimiento sounds like something you might have seen on MTV in the hair band days of the mid-1980’s. Eldorado doesn’t skimp on the quality here, building a layered sound that is both melodic and edgy. Dejame Decirte sounds like a big rock ballad, fairly typical for the genre, but Trujillo’s vocals keep it more than interesting. En Busca De Eldorado goes for the big, soaring guitar sounds you might expect from Ronnie James Dio, although the song itself is a bit more polished and commercial than Dio might end up with. My favorite song here is El Jugador. Eldorado reaches down and grabs hold of an infectious blues core on El Jugador and refuses to let go. The result is a song that just won’t get out of your head. Mistreated is the only English Language song on the album, dealing even more keenly in a blues-heavy hard rock sound. You can tell the band is having fun on this one, waltzing into Prog territory with the song structure and even stepping on the toes of Led Zeppelin in a musical dance you won’t want to miss. The album closes with Identidad, the most ambitious rocker on the album; sure to be a concert favorite.

Eldorado is one of the most resilient and hardest rocking classic hard rock bands on the scene today. The fact that most audiences in the new world have never seen them aside, Eldorado is a band to watch. With a growing Latin American population and the addition of a few more English language songs, Eldorado may be on the precipice of jumping of the EU and taking over the rest of the Western Hemisphere. En Busca De Eldorado is amazing.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Eldorado at www.myspace.com/enbuscadeeldorado or http://www.enbuscadeeldorado.com/. You can purchase a copy of En Busca De Eldorado at www.cdbaby.com/cd/eldoradomusic.