This is Manuel Seoane's second album with his band, Burning Kingdom.
The move from a major label to a minor tells its own story and it's not just a matter of fashion.
Seoane's brand of melodic rock is highly derivative, aping bands like Dokken and White Lion in all their strutting, hard rock, last century splendour. It's passionate and well constructed, and some slinky instrumental moments provide splashes of welcome colour to a generally monochrome musical palette.
In my book, the quality of the songwriting always dictates the strength of the album. Musicianship, performance and production are important. It's clear that huge energy and skill have gone into all three here, and it's that sheer enthusiasm that carries the album, despite a paucity of really strong songs.
That said,
'Shot In The Dark' and
'I've Got A Feeling' are the picks.
The first benefits from a more modest production, with a sleek keyboard undercurrent and a simple, urgent riff complementing a robust melody. The second is a perfect pastiche of eighties' "call and response" feelgood melodic rock. Whether that was deliberate I don't know, but it works.
'Down To The Road' won't win any prizes but I'm convinced we haven't heard the last of Senor Seoane.
Style: MHR
Rating: 5/10Posted by
Brian - Saturday, April 23, 2011
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