Sally Jayne - Remember Me

Sally Jayne - Remember Me

2010, Onalia Productions

Sally Jayne isn't about to tell you who they are. The band tries, in existential terms, to be a reflection of the world around them. The music of Sally Jayne is a chronicle of the human condition as seen through the lens of one small band from Jackson, Mississippi. The band title is something of a command, telling all lost souls (Jayne, as in Jane Doe) to rush forward and claim themselves (Sally forth). This purpose is scattered across four songs on the band's debut
album Remember Me.

Wildy's World was provided with a short form EP to review the album. The presumption in such cases is the best material from the album is on the EP. The EP opens with "Feel", a mid-tempo alt-rock tune with an infectious chorus; with it Sally Jayne sounds a bit like a cross between Creed and Hootie And The Blowfish. The novelty of the sound and repeatable chorus should build real momentum for this track as a single. "The Letter" is a guitar-driven ballad whose opening reminds vaguely of White Lion's "When The Children Cry". Vocalist Marcos Martinez-Rogers really does sound a bit like Darius Rucker. His voice is soulful, although not quite as full or warm as Rucker's signature sound. Sally Jayne heads for a rockier sound on "Chapter One" while maintaining the slow pace and soulful sound that seems to be their trademark. Sally Jayne closes with "Remember Me", a complex and dark rocker that shows a bit more classic rock lean than available elsewhere on the EP. It's a decent closer that serves to show off the breadth of Sally Jayne's sound.

Sally Jayne has enough in their sound to create moderate interest, but the style is essentially similar to a thousand other bands trying to crack the shell of commercial alt-rock radio. The songwriting here is solid, but there's a spark that just doesn't full engage at times, as if Sally Jayne know there's something explosive here but haven't quite figured out how to unlock it yet. Give them time. It will come.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Sally Jayne at http://www.sallyjayne.com/ or www.myspace.com/sallyjayne. Remember Me is available as a digital album through Amazon and iTunes.

Framing Hanley - A Promise To Burn

Framing Hanley - A Promise To Burn
2010, Silent Majority Group

Framing Hanley returns with their 2nd album today, A Promise To Burn; showing flashes of brilliance, but staying mostly mired in pre-processed, radio-ready modern rock. The Nashville-based band who gained their initial notoriety via MySpace continues to expand upon the sound they unleashed on 2007’s The Moment. Opening with "The Promise", Framing Hanley sounds a bit cliché, but scores points with a big, catchy rock chorus. Its decent radio fare but not a standout. "Wake Up" is an urgent pop/rocker with a chorus built around a killer hook. Moving from this dynamic moment into "Bittersweet Sundown", Framing Hanley pushes through a bland rocker that foretells the next few songs.

"Weight Of The World" turns the tide with a pared-back 1980's rock sound that is very becoming to the band. Framing Hanley strips back some of the guitar sound and finds a low-key approach that allows the simple melody to shine. Kenneth Nixon offers up his best vocals on the disc, and "Weight Of The World" sounds like a hit in most any era. On "Fool With Dreams", Framing Hanley moves into the sensitive power ballad with a somewhat cliché but likely popular tune. "Back To Go Again" turns out to the centerpiece of A Promise To Burn, featuring one of those choruses that get lodged in your brain. This is the catchiest tune on the disc; a missive on a relationship that is falling apart and the desire to hit reset before it crashes. "Livin' So Divine" is a solid active-rock tune with mild commercial potential but not a lot of heart. And so goes the rest of A Promise To Burn, right through the closing track, "The Burn".

Framing Hanley has a big rock sound that is a bit too typical to really stand out. There is a distinct musicality at the heart of the songwriting on A Promise To Burn, but this often gets buried inside the commercial intent that drives the album. Framing Hanley's best moments come when they shake off the commercial chains and write pure pop/rock songs. As a whole, A Promise To Burn is a decent effort with a couple of great moments. It's likely to satisfying existing fans but isn't a strong catalyst for new ones.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Framing Hanley at http://www.framinghanley.com/ or http://www.framinghanley.net/. A Promise To Burn is available on CD from Amazon.com. Digital versions are available from iTunes.

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: Cavo - Bright Nights Dark Days

Cavo - Bright Nights Dark Days
2009, Reprise Records

Cavo had been knocking around the St. Louis music scene since their inception in 2001, but a lineup change in 2006 catalyzed the band and their sound in ways they'd only imagined previously. What had been a fun and necessary pursuit for front man Casey Walker, guitarist Chris Hobbs and drummer Chad La Roy turned into a vibrant project with a feeling of destiny about with the addition of bass player Brian Smith. The first break came in 2007 when St. Louis radio station The Point put their song Champagne in rotation. Step two occurred at a showcase in New York City when the band was approached by producer David Bendeth (Breaking Benjamin, Paramore, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus). Bendeth wanted to work with the band regardless of whether they were with a major label. Ultimately, Cavo ended up signed with Reprise Records with Bendeth at the helm for their major label debut, Bright Nights Dark Days.

Cavo's sound is drawn together by vocalist Walker, who seems to have two distinct voices. His lower register is pleasant and nearly soothing, but in his higher register he's a classic Rock N Roll front man; a cross between Scott Stapp and Steve Perry. Cavo opens up with Champagne, the song that started this odyssey from them. It's a disciplined, guitar-oriented rocker with a lot of energy. Cavo holds in the reins on the verses and goes full-throttle on the chorus for a song certain to garner attention from major radio. Crash is a great rock tune with big hooks, an infectious chorus and a positive message, of sorts. Let It Go isn't my favorite song on the disc, but the chorus is all you could ask for in a pop/rock song.

Ghost is a potential hit. It's a gentle rocker about trying to move on after a relationship but constantly tripping over memories. Even getting rid of the artifacts doesn't work. The chorus here will inspire you to sing along and you won't be able to get it out of your head. Blame is a bit weaker on the songwriting, but the tableaux of sound they build here more than makes up for any weakness. My Little Secret is all about the ambivalence of adultery; the narrator professes his desire to be with his new love, but takes no steps to leave his old one. He knows its going to fall apart and sits there waiting for the end. Beautiful and We All Fall Down Again are decent but don't carry the same energy found on much of the album. Cavo recovers nicely on Over Again, a radio-ready Rock tune with real licensing potential. Cavo closes out with Useless; not the best choice for a closer and probably the weakest track on the disc.

Cavo has that It-factor that bands search for. Vocalist Casey Walker has a sound that's instantly recognizable, and the band displays a special kind of chemistry on Bright Nights Dark Days. If this isn't a breakout album, it will establish enough of a base for Cavo to break out on the next one. Very well done.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Cavo at http://www.cavomusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/cavomusic. You can purchase Bright Nights Dark Days as either a CD or Download from Amazon.com.

Review: Underwhelmed - Reveal

Underwhelmed - Reveal
2009, Problematic Records

Brooklyn, New York rockers Underwhelmed hit hard on their newest album, Reveal. Thundering guitars, crashing chords and a total commitment to Rock N Roll are evident from the opening notes of an album that has already topped the charts on Garageband.com, IndieCharts.com and IndiesTop10.com. While Underwhelmed has been compared to bands like Nickelback and 3 Doors Down, their work ethic and dedication to their sound is reminiscent of some the biggest names of the classic rock era. However you classify them, Underwhelmed is going to make some noise in 2009 and beyond.

With a sound that could be compared to bands like Creed, 7 Mary 3 or 3 Doors Down, Underwhelmed also brings in the best elements of 1980's sound. Opening with Freak (Like Me), a Rock/Pop/Electronica hybrid, Underwhelmed show off the sort of big hooks and bigger choruses that made the 1980's music scene such fun. With You is a nice change of pace mid-album as something of a power ballad. Reveal is a big, airy rock anthem with a strong commercial vibe. The song is a fun listen but is enough like most of the other stuff you'll hear on Modern Rock radio that it fails to really stand out. For much of the rest of Reveal, Underwhelmed falls deeper into the bland, formulaic modern rock style that dominates rock radio. The songs in general are well-written and highly polished, but other than those noted above don't really make a lasting impression on the listener.

Underwhelmed shows flashes of real songwriting panache on Reveal, but gets too caught up in the sound of the moment to really exploit their collective talent to its fullest extent. Reveal is a decent debut and will certainly sell some units in the commercial environment, but won't have real staying power with listeners. Still, songs like Freak (Like Me) indicate there is much to be realized musically by Underwhelmed. The process should be a fun one to watch unfold.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Underwhelmed at www.myspace.com/underwhelmednyc or http://www.underwhelmednyc.com/. You can purchase a copy of Reveal at www.cdbaby.com/cd/underwhelmed4 or you may download it through iTunes.

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.