(SMASH ENTERTAINMENT)

Attention for fans of pure AOR! HIT THE GROUND RUNNIN' is the new AOR sensation from the USA. But are they really a new band, because on their CD 'Control yourself' we can read that all the songs were recorded in 1989-1990. The reason behind this can be read in an interview Nicky had with this wonderful new band who are coming out of Media, PA, USA. This band has a very long history behind them, and this 'Control yourself' is actually their second album release.

They put out a record titled 'Sudden impact' back in 1988 and that LP hit big time, because the band appeared on many TV-shows and played throughout the USA and Canada in front of acts like CINDERELLA, JEFF HEALY BAND, DONNIE OSMOND, BLUE OYSTER CULT... After the split, due to problems with their recordcompany (see interview), the band had recorded a bunch of demo tapes for the release of a second album which never got released until now. The band has uploaded their songs to mp3.com and they have finally released their second album, ten years after the recording took place. I am very glad they did release this album, because this 'Control yourself' CD is about to attack the European AOR scene.

Without any doubts, this band is going to be the new sensation on the AOR scene. The songs on 'Control yourself' can easily be compared to the pure 80s AOR of bands like AVIATOR, MESSAGE, SURVIVOR, TOUR DE FORCE, WHITE SISTER, PROPHET. Yes, this band is really playing the good-old 80s AOR and it wouldn't surprise me if they are picked up by one of the European AOR labels someday soon. There are 11 songs on the CD and right from the start this is huge AOR. "Control yourself" opens the CD and is a great 80s typed AOR/Melodic Rocker that sounds like a mix between SURVIVOR and TOUR DE FORCE.

Next up is "Back again", the keys and harmonies are all over the place and this is pure 80s AOR reminding me of a mix between AVIATOR, MESSAGE and PROPHET. Following track "Shanghiad" is nice uptempo AOR/Melodic Rock. "Lost" follows and this is a great pure Power AOR Ballad in the style of NETWORK. The level is even getting higher on the next track "Still life lover". This song is HUGE! This is fantastic pure 80s AOR rock a la SURVIVOR with a chorus a la early 80s JOURNEY. The AOR continues on "Born to be with you" which has a very cheerful uptempo sound (like 8084, AVIATOR, TOUR DE FORCE). In the exact same style is the next track "Pain". Classic midtempo AOR can be heard in the wonderful song "Holding on".

After 8 wonderful pure AOR songs, then we get to hear the first weak songs. These songs are titled "I.C.V." (simple rocker) and "Dirty girl" (WINGER meets EXTREME fun rock). Those are the only weak songs on this CD, because also the closing track "Surrounded by fire" is pure AOR, just like the first 8 songs. This final track is maybe one of the best on the CD, because "Surrounded by fire" is fantastic catchy uptempo AOR like AVIATOR with a killer chorus that has perfect harmonyvocals. I also smell a similarity to INTRUDER and SHOTGUN SYMPHONY on this song.

It won't be long till this band will be big time on the AOR scene. Now go and check out the interview with these guys on this website. Also check out the band's website at: http://www.hitthegroundrunnin.homepage.com and e-mail them at:
smashnet@home.com

Rating: 9,5/10

(SMASH ENTERTAINMENT) 2ND OPINION REVIEW

I could die a happy man right now, thanks to this stunning melodic hard rock band. HTGR are from Philadephia, Pennsylvania USA, and play big chorus laden american rock a'la STEVE STEVENS' ATOMIC PLAYBOYS, VAN HALEN (HAGAR era),VINNIE VINCENT INVASION, JOURNEY, TYKETTO, SURVIVOR, VELOCITY and Y AND T, All the songs on "Control Yourself" are huge kick arse rock songs, filled to the brim with classy hooks and razor sharp guitars, you get ballads like the huge SURVIVORish "Lost" through to die hard monster rockers like the opening trio of "Control Yourself", "Back
Again" and "Shanghiad" all of which are big time rock like STEVE STEVENS and VINNIE VINCENT.

The production on this album for an indy band puts to shame alot of the major label bands, and should help to link the guys a secure and much deserved record deal, also frontman Blair Rumsey is an amazing new talent, I haven't heard a singer this good since DANNY VAUGHAN gave it all he had to TYKETTO and WAYSTED. Blair is right on top of it everytime, and pulls off some shit hot vocal performances, he is across between DANNY VAUGHAN and JIMI JAMISON, but with alot more guts and energy, I mean where the hell has this guy come from?

Had this been released in the rock boom of the mid eighties then HTGR would have been selling out arena stadiums all over the world, and they still could as this band are truly great and could very well kickstart the whole goddamn thing all over again, so much is the power of this outfits music.

The TYKETTO, SURVIVOR, JOURNEY influences shine through on the more aor and melodic rock sounding "Still Life Lover" and "Holding On" whilst "Pain" is a catchy little ditty full of wonderful keyboards and a chorus to die for. Other songs worthy of your attention are "Dirty Girl" which sees the band getting dirty and exploring bonk rock, this is ridiculously catchy, but the ultimate HTGR track comes in the shape of the last song called "Surrounded By Fire" which is one of the best songs I have heard in years, big 'n' fat melodies and pure aor hooks that will leave you frothing at the mouth for more.

This band are all ready setting the clubs in Philadephia on fire, so get into HTGR right now by visiting their website: http://www.hitthegroundrunnin.homepage.com or email smashnet@home.com and enjoy what insiders call the NEXT BIG THING!!! A priceless album.

Rating: 9,5/10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)

27 WEST is a very interesting band from New York, formed around two guys who have been writing songs in a Brooklyn garage which have now resulted in the release of their debut CD '27 West'. The duo consists of John Merjave (vocalist, guitarist, bassist) and Kevin Diegnan (vocalist, keyboardist). The 12 tracks on their debut CD sound very diverse and
range from pure AOR, Melodic Rock, Radiorock to Pop.

Although not all songs will attract Melodic Rockfans, I can't ignore the tracks that are not Melodic Rock oriented, simply due to the fact that these guys can write and sing huge harmonies that sound very melodic. 27 WEST is very much similar in approach to bands like NELSON, 2ND NATURE and above all they remind me of AOR newcomers ROKBOX (yet without the big AOR sound). But given you this similarity is not a good thing to do, because actually 27 WEST have created a sound on their own in which those influences really shine through. The CD starts with "Walkin' the thin line", a pretty good 80s oriented uptempo AOR/Melodic Rocker that indeed has that ROKBOX similarity I was talking about.

Next up is "Face 2 face" which immediately shows the diversity of this band, because this song has got a pop approach, but the chorus is very much AOR because of those great harmonies. A song like this really is meant for those hot summer nights and make you very relaxed. Also next track "Nothing ever lasts" has that feeling, another Pop oriented piece which now reminds me a bit of the calmer moments of Poprock heroes THE OUTFIELD. Also the following track "The moment" is Pop based and this one is really a bit too much away from the Melodic Rock genre.

There aren't many rockers on the CD and so the CD continues with some more relaxing lighter AOR songs such as "Look for the light" (pretty good actually, kinda like HAYWIRE, ROKBOX) and "Hard to walk away" (very nice close-harmony ballad). The fans of pure Melodic Rock had to wait sometime,. But then 27 WEST is getting to rock a little towards the end of the CD. "What's it gonna be" is a great cheerful AOR/Melodic Rocker a la ROKBOX (again). "Not what I believe" is pure AOR suddenly and I really like the verse and instrumental sound of this song that is very much similar in style to DAKOTA. The Piano-Popballad "Stay on the ground" follows.

Then we get to hear the best track of the whole CD, namely the song "You never know". This was the song I was waiting and hoping for. "You never know" is a brilliant Classic 80s uptempo AOR/Radiorock that has all the ingredients to become a winner for the pure AOR fan. This song is in the style of PREVIEW, THE PROMISE, TANDYM, 707, STEEL BREEZE (circa 'Heart on the line') and without any doubts the best song on this CD. It has harmonies, hooklines and keyboards all over the place, especially the 80s typed keyboardsolo really is interesting to hear. If the band would make a bunch more of such uptempo AOR rockers, then they would be massive.

For now, it is only one song that has this Classic 80s AOR approach. The closing two tracks are unfortunately Pop based. Nevertheless this band is very much worth to check out. Their website is located at: http://www.27westmusic.com

Rating: 8/10

STEAL DAWN is a Californian Melodic Rock band who have released their debut CD 'Til The End Of Time' a few years ago. Around that time, there was also a band called STEEL DAWN, who hailed from Germany and released the melodic rockalbum 'Mirror images'. That German band did change their name into 7 WISHES, but this STEAL DAWN doesn't have anything in common with that band, except for the fact they both play Melodic Rock. This STEAL DAWN is playing 80s influenced Melodic Rock, and kinda reminds me of similar independent bands such as SURE CONVICTION, BIG GENERATOR…

I want to make clear that this band is not playing pure 80s Melodic Rock, because the grooves and rhythm section is 90s inspired, but happily the vocals and melodic harmonies of the 80s melodic rock are present throughout the CD. The CD counts 12 tracks and I couldn't find any weak song. If you like one song of these guys, you will certainly fall in love with the rest.

Opener "'Til The End Of Time" is a good melodic rocker (with a 90s groove). The song captures some great singing by Vocalist/Guitarist/Keyboardist Robert Adams and also the melodic harmony vocals work very good on this first tune. Besides, I also like the bridge a lot, chorus and also the hookline really sound very good and show that this is quality 90s
melodic rock. Next track "T.A.D.G." is a bit weaker and a little less melodic rock oriented, but still fine to listen to.

Next up is the semi melodic rocker "I Need You Here", a very good song. Following track "Fantasy" is radio-ready for the 90s stations, because this is a modern semi melodic rocker/ballad and kinda reminds me of newcomers PROMOTION. I really love the next tune "My angel", a great melodic rock ballad with a lot of REO SPEEDWAGON influences. Especially the vocals and harmonyvocals sound very melodic in this song. Then comes "Hit-n-run", a melodic Hard rock song a la SURE CONVICTION, but this song is nothing special.

The quality goes up again during the following 3 songs. First there is the semi melodic rocker "My Way" which sounds already pretty good. "Home" follows and this is another great semi melodic rocker with again those lovely harmony vocals that sound very melodic. Then we get to hear the best song of the whole CD that is "Lover's fate". This song is a great semi AOR Ballad with very good harmonies (again) that are similar in approach to JOURNEY and a killer AOR chorus. Without any doubts, this is the best song of the whole CD and in general it reminds me of SAVANNAH.

The CD continues with "Undercover", a less interesting song, because this is the most 90s oriented song and unfortunately also the vocals are now 90s oriented and actually this is the only song that has nothing to do with melodic rock. Happily, next track "Angry young man" is much better, this is a great 80s typed uptempo AOR/Radiorocker in the style of THE PROMISE.

Closing track of this CD is "Walls come down". This final track is quite different than the rest. The song is harder edged melodic hardrock in the best 80s tradition of bands like DOKKEN, WHITE LION… yet the chorus totally kicks ass and blows away most of the rest of the CD. The chorus of this final track is really huge Melodic Rock and totally up there with bands like DOKKEN, HEAVENS EDGE, WHITE LION…

This STEAL DAWN has surprised me a lot and the band has mixed a lot of styles of the Melodic Rock genre, which I really admire. Check out this band at: http://www.stealdawn.com

Rating: 8/10

(DAK RECORDS/THOUGHTSCAPE SOUNDS)

DAKOTA strikes back in 2000 with a great new CD release through DAK RECORDS, THOUGHTSCAPE SOUNDS. I am not sure why they are not on the Escape Music release schedule anymore, but I do know that this is a great release of this legendary Classic AOR band. There are 14 songs on the new record which is the 5th official album release of DAKOTA.

The music is still the same and so we get another bunch of great classy 80s typed AOR rock that has similarities to SURVIVOR, HARLAN CAGE and that type of bands. Still I have to admit that the best songs of DAKOTA were made in the past, because also this album doesn't have the high level their second album 'Runaway' captured. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed this wonderful pure AOR record.

The best songs according to me are "Hearts on fire" (huge harmonies), "I.O.U." (a touch of FRANKE AND THE KNOCKOUTS), "Go easy on my heart" (wonderful classic 80s midtempo AOR), "Wish" (SURVIVOR references) and "Next in line" (early 80s AOR style). There aren't any weak songs on the record and can easily recommend it to the fans of DAKOTA, because the Classic 80s AOR is very much alive on this record. For more info surf to the website of THOUGHTSCAPE SOUNDS at: http://www.thoughtscape.com

Rating: 8,5/10

(DAK RECORDS/THOUGHTSCAPE SOUNDS)

Exactly twenty years ago the legendary AOR band DAKOTA released their first LP titled 'Dakota. It was the same year that they performed a live concert which has now been released on CD as 'Three live times ago'. Also in 1980 they toured with QUEEN as their support act. This CD captures the spirit of that concert they gave for a small crowd twenty years ago. 13 songs can be heard and not all of them are original DAKOTA songs, because they also play a few classics from the 1978 LP release of JERRY-KELLY BAND. That band can be seen as pre-DAKOTA, because it featured the same members and DAKOTA was the continuation of THE JERRY KELLY BAND in 1979.

Besides the 13 live songs, this CD also contains 4 never-before released bonustracks that were taken off straight from a demotape recorded way back in 1977. Funny enough,
before JERRY KELLY BAND, there was THE BUOYS who featured DAKOTA/JERRY KELLY BAND members' guitarist/vocalist Jerry G. Hludzik and guitarist/vocalist Bill Kelly. And till this date I think THE BUOYS was the biggest success these two guys ever had, because they scored massive worldwide with the song "Give up your guns" which is still
played a lot these days over here in Europe. But we're talking about the early 70s and this can't be seen as AOR, though it was the beginning of a long career for Jerry G. Hludzik who is the only original member left of DAKOTA.

This live-CD features a total different line-up than the line-up of the above reviewed new CD of the band. I must really admit that this original line-up of DAKOTA sounds better than the new line-up, partly due to the fact DAKOTA had two singers in the beginning which put
them in LE ROUX territory. Also musically they were much more Pomp/AOR based than nowadays. This live-CD gives you an idea how good the band was back in the early 80s. Second vocalist Bill Kelly really was a bless for DAKOTA, this guy had a superb voice which was totally AOR/Pomp and sounded like a cross between FERGIE FREDERIKSEN and KEVIN CHALFANT. I can still hear him singing the vocal lines of "Into the night", a song on the second LP of DAKOTA 'Runaway' (1984), which was some of the best AOR performances ever!

Anyway, this live-CD has a very good sound and is very nice to listen to. This CD is bringing back memories to the good-old early 80s when AOR was hot in the USA. Songs like "When the rebel comes home" (1984 album track, but apparently written around 1980), "Crazy for your love", "Settle down", "Changes", "If it takes all night" and "Magic" are the Classic AOR songs we must never forget. These are the songs that will remember everyone of how good early 80s AOR sounded. Just enjoy one hour of DAKOTA live!

The four bonustracks from 1977 are a bit calmer than the AOR oriented style of DAKOTA, but still these JERRY-KELLY BAND songs are nice westcoast-AOR tunes that will please any fan of DAKOTA. Any fan of early 80s AOR and DAKOTA simply cannot miss this CD. I could even say that you should get this live-CD before the new CD, though actually it is a must to get both albums asap. For more info surf to the website of THOUGHTSCAPE SOUNDS at: http://www.thoughtscape.com

Rating: 9/10

Compilation CD from the guys at ESCAPE MUSIC and this is a fine collection of some of the best things they put out the past few years and as bonus there are 7 unreleased songs. Escape Music favorites HEARTLAND, NEWMAN, STRANDED, THE DISTANCE, MESSAGE, DEPARTURE and several others are all present with songs taken from their already released albums.

Nevertheless, for the AOR fan with not enough money to buy everything, this is a nice CD. But like I said, this CD is interesting for everyone of us, because it features a bunch of new songs by MESSAGE, STRANDED, CHANGE OF HEART, FIREFLY and RADIO SILENCE. First there is FIREFLY with "Shadow of a doubt". This song will also be on their forthcoming release 'After the fire'. Although I thought their debut CD was a weak melodic rockalbum, this new song is very good. "Shadow of a doubt" is a great 80s typed cheerful uptempo melodic rocker a la old BON JOVI, VON GROOVE and the first HAREM SCAREM.

Next up is MESSAGE who are featured with two new songs. The first one is "One step away", a fantastic midtempo AOR tune which is similar in approach to ALIAS, MARK FREE… A very good song which is promising for their upcoming new CD 'Outside looking in'. At the end of the CD, MESSAGE is featured with another new song which is titled "Dance of the dead". This song will be featured as a bonustrack on the re-release of their debut 'Lessons' which will also be released through Escape Music later this year.

Maybe you will remember that Long Island Records put out MESSAGE's debut years ago and that record consisted of recordings that took place in the early 80s with a young Richie Sambora as guitarist. The music on 'Lessons' is prime-time Melodic Pomprock with references to bands like KANSAS, PROPHET, STREETS… When hearing this bonustrack "Dance of the dead" I am not sure if that song would fit on this re-release of their classic debut, because this song is basically a weak funky melodic rocker which sounds more like EXTREME's "Get the funk out" than anything the band did back in the early 80s. Nevertheless, I really look forward to the 2 new CDs of MESSAGE which will be out shortly.

Moving on with the band CHANGE OF HEART, who released a few years back one of the best U.K. AOR records since FM and STRANGEWAYS (and they were Scottish) were releasing AOR albums. The band is now working on a follow-up and the song "I don't want to be lonely" is a sneak preview of this promising second CD. This new song is a very catchy uptempo AOR/FM-rocker and I think we can also look forward to the new CD of this band. And Escape Music seems to have more interesting AOR releases coming up, because also the new song of their band STRANDED surprised me a lot. Their new featured song "In your arms tonight" is a very good uptempo early 80s AOR/Radiorocker that has a lot of SURVIVOR/38 SPECIAL influences and the vocals are very close to Jimi Jamison. To top it all, this song could have easily been featured in a Baywatch episode.

On with RADIO SILENCE who are featured with an old song called "Answer my prayer", a calmer hi-tech westcoast/AOR approach which falls in PROMOTION/CHICAGO territory. I like the chorus a lot. These kind of songs really have radio-potential. The song itself will also be featured on their forthcoming second CD on Escape Music.

The last band with a new song on this compilation is SILENT WITNESS who are featured with the fantastic classic 80s melodic rocker "Victim of illusion". This song is actually an unreleased bonustrack and I am not sure if it will ever be released on a new CD of the band. Anyway, this song of SILENT WITNESS is better than anything they did on their two released CDs.

So, basically what we have here is an interesting compilation CD and an AOR fan shouldn't be ashamed buying this record. In fact, I can really recommend it to the AOR fans, because besides all these unreleased songs, you can also enjoy again some of the old released AOR songs such as the brilliant DOUBLE DEALER track "Freedom" (the only real good song from their debut, a wonderful pure midtempo AOR song which brought back memories of Classic JEFF PARIS). Good job from Escape and I look forward to hear their new albums in the future!

Rating: -

NEW EDEN is a Californian band who are playing Progressive Melodic Hard Rock/Metal. The band sent me a demo CDR that contained 3 well-produced songs. The band reminds me a lot of acts like STRATOVARIUS and ROYAL HUNT, so basically what you get hear is a little different than the things we usually review, but overall this band has a very good sound. It wouldn't surprise me if a label like LIMB MUSIC would pick up this band. More info at: http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/7760

Rating: 7/10

JOE CANNON is the man behind this band. Together with James Huskey he has recorded this CD titled 'Over the top'. But this is definitely not Joe's first record, because the past 20 years this talented guy has been recording and producing records constantly. I believe this is the fifth CD he has released under the name CANNON. I haven't heard the previous records
unfortunately, so I don't know if he changed musically. This CD is a very diverse CD with many different musicstyles. I rather had heard a more straight-ahead (hard) rock approach, but Joe seems hard to be placed in a particular musicstyle.

Almost every musicstyle is present here. You can hear weird poprock with progressive influences ("Island of poverty"), groovy melodic rock ("Stone fire"), acoustic ballads ("Without you"), quirky popmusic ("Pa pa Joe", "Croon for you" and "Music"), LED
ZEPPELIN typed groove rock ("Barbie Q") and also some similarities to ENUFF'Z'NUFF can be made on a song like "Pal'n around".

However, the two best songs on the CD are "You & I" and "Burn for you". These are both 90s influenced melodic pop/rock songs with experimental rhythms, but with good lead vocals and melodies. Both songs have cool spacy keyboards/synthesisers that remind me a little of JIM STEEL. And a song like PHIL VINCENT could've done "You & me",
but only when he would have gone more 90s oriented (which he didn't happily). I can't place this CANNON CD in a particular musicstyle, so if you like any of the mentioned stuff, then see for yourself if this grabs your attention. Website at: http://www.amp3.com/joecannon

Rating: 6,5/10

ASKA is a band out of Texas who have really built up a big reputation in the whole world. Recently they have toured Asia. Now the band has just released their 4th CD and this new one is actually heading back to an 80s sound. This CD is filled with pure 80s melodic metal that was made famous by bands like SCORPIONS, IRON MAIDEN and RIOT back then. Just listen to the opener "Crown of thorns" and you are listening to early 80s melodic metal (including the melodic guitarsolos). This is sounding like a cross between SAXON and RIOT. And actually the rest of the CD is moving into the same area as this opening song.

My favourites can be found towards the end of the record. Songs like "Lethal injection" and "Valkyries" are good uptempo melodic rockers that remind me of CRYSTAL BALL, that Swiss band from last year. Also pretty nice is the semi rocker/ballad "Against the Gods". This CD is very much recommended if you like any of the mentioned bands. If not, still
check them out at: http://www.askaband.com

Rating: 7/10

Alex Masi has had little in the way of attention outside of the Far East for some little while now, but "In the Name of Bach", an album that has been out some time in Japan, should, hopefully, go some way to correcting that state of affairs. Malmsteen went the classical route, and brave though it was, it was largely on his own terms, Alex Masi has take a different, and it might be claimed, a more difficult route, by transcribing pieces of keyboard and violin music by Johan Sebastian Bach, for guitar. And it works.

The album opens with "Toccata & Fugue in D minor", which most of us have probably heard in one form or another, and it is beautifully played and arranged, Masi's touch being just right, sometimes light, sometimes playful, sometimes firey. And it fires the imagination which is what music should do, mental imagery abounds of fluted columns, arches soaring into the summer sun streaming through cathedral windows. whilst "Prelude in G major" is a skittish Restoration romp, and "Allemande from French suite in D Minor" has the air of early autumn sadness that sitting in a country church with only memories for company can
evoke.

I believe that this album succeeds on every level, technically, emotionally, and maybe leading the listener to investigate the work of Bach further. It needs to be appreciated as a whole, but I would draw your attention to the complex arrangement, and wonderful melodies of "Contrapunctus #9".Maybe this album it not typical rock fare, but in an age when many progressive/technical metal bands quote liberally from the classics, it seems a justified and worthwhile album. Alex Masi is to be congratulated without reservation for what he has done.

Rating: 9/10 (Review by Andrew Paul)

If you are craving for a fix of soft pop rock then look no further than Los Angeles based singer/songwriter Gailyn Addis. This is her debut album and the lady has self produced the record, vocally she is similar to FIONA APPLE, PAULA COLE, JANN ARDEN, KATHY FISHER, CHRIS PHILLIPS, SARAH McLACHLAN and the new JAIME KYLE. Her songs are every bit chart toppers and I have a feeling that this lady will be making big waves very soon.

The songs on this album can appeal to both lovers of pop music and rock music as they all have strong melodies and catchy chorus', check out "Search For Me", a passionate song with plenty of delivery, or the KATE BUSH, CYNDI LAUPER, PAULA COLEish "Best Lie", this song is excellent and very smooth, an instant winner, "Close The Door" isn't so good as it mixes techno boogie with rock and doesn't appeal to these ears, on the otherhand, I would sooner hear this in the trendy nightclubs than all the other rubbish they play, it's like a techno KATE BUSH.

"Unrestrained" continues this movement, then we get to hear a beautifull jawdropping heartwrenching big ballad called "Nine Of Swords", a song that maybe JOHN WAITE, RICHARD MARX or JOURNEY could have a hit with. So you end up with three essential songs, and six not so good ones, I'll like the way that she tries to make her record more versitile but I would urge the lady to explore the pop rock melodies of "Search For Me" and "Best Lie", then we could have a very good album on our hands. Website at: http://www.gailynaddis.iuma.com

Rating: 5/10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)

(SLEEPING CHEETAH MUSIC)

This is an interesting release that bares similarites to BJORK, ALANNAH MYLES, DEAD CAN DANCE, GLORIA ESTEFAN, JAIME KYLE, ALANIS MORISETTE, MELISSA
ETHERIDGE, BRAND NEW HEAVIES, BELIND CARLISLE and CHRIS PHILLIPS.
Multi-instrumentalist Una Thompson has beeen perfoming solo since the mid-90's, her writing partner is none other than one GREG GIAMETTA, who is best known for his work with cult metal heroes KING DIAMOND.

Una's music is soft accoustic pop rock, that often satisfies the listener thanks to Una's
sexy dreamy voice., with various work writng songs for TV, Una finally issued this her debut album and it is a neat collection of gentle songs. Her band are currently preparing for multi label showcases, so let's hope that the labels show some sense and sign this talented young artist. Songs like "Sifting Ashes", "With The Ring", "Hey Joe (Ann)", "Like Clowns" (a song that maybe you would find STEVIE SALAS creating) show where Una is heading
with her music.

But the two songs that steal the show are the excellent semi ballad "Spaceship Monqui", and the catchy and uptempo pop rock of "A Sanitary Tale Of Bliss". There's enough beauty on this album that leaves a mouthewatering taste for more, let's hope that we don't have to wait too long for Una's second release. A good start, nice one!!

Website: http://unathompson.iuma.com
Email: unathompson@yahoo.com

Rating: 6/10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)