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Post by Helmut83 on Jul 31, 2015 16:34:31 GMT
Oh, man, I'm not sure I'll be able to do it before next week's Wednesday. In any case, I normally give my reviews on Fridays so patience...
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Post by unomusette on Aug 1, 2015 22:31:40 GMT
I've never heard of this artist before, that's the brilliant thing about this thread, it makes you listen to things you'd not normally consider. Diving in, here goes: 01. Shake - I really like the big sound on this. If you've got it, flaunt it is one of my favourite sayings and Russ is properly going for it. Very good start, I'm enjoying myself already. 02. Walk Between the Lines - This guy has quite the voice, and I'm guessing this very '80's synth-heavy sound is going to colour the whole album. We shall see if it wears thin. This track would stand up against anything Huey Lewis brought out though. 03. Do You Believe in Love? - Speaking of whom...Doh! I was completely expecting this to be a cover. Not keen on the keyboard sound and it's a bit too Michael Bolton even for Mr Bolton himself. Calm down, Russ! 04. Down in the Lowlands - Nice atmospheric intro and a much better sound than the previous song for me, more punchy. Liking this one quite a lot. 05. This Love is Strong - Too much echo on this I'd say, and the vocal is a bit over-acted in parts. But this is Russ, and I'm learning that this is what he does. 06. I Still Believe - Another interesting intro, the song is the sort that Michael Bolton would gladly add to his repertoire. Quite liking the growly element of the vocals here but the synth sound is overdone for me. 07. Steal Away - Ahh, much calmer. Is this a cover? Sounds like an old blues song or what used to be called a "negro spiritual". Anyway, it's over before I've finished typing, bit of a shame 08. Living on the Edge of Time - Oooo, I love a spoken intro! Bouncy little number, much lighter-sounding than what's gone before, I like it. 09. Higher - Some nice bass work and backing vocals here, but it's a bit of a filler for me. 10. Breathe Life into Me - Good showcase for Russ's vocals, I like the rhythm of this one, it sort of shuffles casually along. Some nice sax and guitar work too. 11. Healing Touch - Instantly it reminds me of Kyrie by Mr Mister, I wonder which came first? As it goes on it's more mundane but Russ is giving it all he's got as usual, and you can't not appreciate that. This simply drips '80's power ballad. It's not my choice of genre but that doesn't make it bad, in fact of its type I'd say it's a pretty good collection. A fair few of the songs went on a bit too long for me but listening to the album did bring back those relatively carefree days of my youth, when hair was big and so were the sounds coming out of the radio. I'd give it 6 out of 10 and I'd like to ruffle Russ's mullet and tell him he's a good guy. Thanks for sharing, jrmugz !
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Post by Helmut83 on Aug 7, 2015 5:56:44 GMT
- Shake: very '80s pop, with some funky/disco elements on it (like the bassline, which is quite crazy). I wasn't a big fan of the outro with the drums but before that it was OK. Maybe it lacks a more achieved hook on the chorus but it is a decent song to start with.
- Walk between the lines: damn, this is so, so '80s it's like the prototype of romantic pop song of the era. What does it remind me of? Bryan Adams maybe. In any case, I think the song is a pretty good one, sounds fluent and inspired (although at 5:30 minutes I think it should have been a bit shorter).
- Do you believe in love?: the guy is a good singer, he proves it in this one. An average ballad, not bad but lacked something else for being good. When the chorus is starting it seems like the guy got a good hook, but then the following phrases don't close it well and dilute all of the effect the first phrase had.
- Down in the lowlands: the video had been taken down and although I searched for it on YouTube there wasn't any other video featuring the song.
- This love is strong: that irregular rythm in the verse was very used in those times. The organ gives the song an atmosphere of gospell or something related to the church or God. A good song, I liked it. Original and interesting.
- I still believe: not much to take away from this one other than that keyboard/synthetizer riff that goes along during the chorus. I find the verse to be way too forced and uninspired, as in the bad Tom Petty songs in which the melody is too obvious and transmits nothing. Also, too much shouting for nothing. Find a good melody and there will be no need to shout so much.
[From now to the last song, none of them was available to me so I couldn't listen to them]
- Healing touch: OK song, not great but OK, with some interesting instrumental stuff in the background by the organ and the bass. The solo in the middle was the best part of the song, what a pity he didn't try to build more over that.
Well, the experience was cut through the middle for me because of the amount of songs I couldn't listen to (maybe it was because they are not available in my country, I don't know), so the conclusions I draw should apply only to the songs I was able to give a listen.
I wouldn't be so hard as a few of the other guys have been. I don't think it is so terrible. In the least of cases, it's listenable music. However, I found it far from good, and what's more, irrelevant. The reason? The melodies, or the lack of them (I have to agree with Chippa on this one). The set I've heard desperately needed stronger, more defined, well shaped melodies, those that when you stop listening to the song remain stuck in your head. All the production (which, like it or not, was very professional and features great mixes), the great vocal work, the good instrumentation, all of that couldn't make up for the absence of original, inspired, effective melodies. The choruses didn't stand out as choruses because they had no hooks, at least not well-achieved ones. The best songs of the set I've heard ("Walk between the lines" and "This love is strong") would be OK as complimentary songs for other stronger ones, but for being first dishes on their own I think they lack that hook or element that makes them unique. But, like I said before, it didn't go to the extreme of making the experience a suffering thing, it was just that it lacked something more special for me.
Maybe between the songs I've missed there was something more interesting, I don't know.
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 9, 2015 11:20:58 GMT
- Shake: very '80s pop, with some funky/disco elements on it (like the bassline, which is quite crazy). I wasn't a big fan of the outro with the drums but before that it was OK. Maybe it lacks a more achieved hook on the chorus but it is a decent song to start with. - Walk between the lines: damn, this is so, so '80s it's like the prototype of romantic pop song of the era. What does it remind me of? Bryan Adams maybe. In any case, I think the song is a pretty good one, sounds fluent and inspired (although at 5:30 minutes I think it should have been a bit shorter). - Do you believe in love?: the guy is a good singer, he proves it in this one. An average ballad, not bad but lacked something else for being good. When the chorus is starting it seems like the guy got a good hook, but then the following phrases don't close it well and dilute all of the effect the first phrase had. - Down in the lowlands: the video had been taken down and although I searched for it on YouTube there wasn't any other video featuring the song. - This love is strong: that irregular rythm in the verse was very used in those times. The organ gives the song an atmosphere of gospell or something related to the church or God. A good song, I liked it. Original and interesting. - I still believe: not much to take away from this one other than that keyboard/synthetizer riff that goes along during the chorus. I find the verse to be way too forced and uninspired, as in the bad Tom Petty songs in which the melody is too obvious and transmits nothing. Also, too much shouting for nothing. Find a good melody and there will be no need to shout so much. [From now to the last song, none of them was available to me so I couldn't listen to them] - Healing touch: OK song, not great but OK, with some interesting instrumental stuff in the background by the organ and the bass. The solo in the middle was the best part of the song, what a pity he didn't try to build more over that. Well, the experience was cut through the middle for me because of the amount of songs I couldn't listen to (maybe it was because they are not available in my country, I don't know), so the conclusions I draw should apply only to the songs I was able to give a listen. I wouldn't be so hard as a few of the other guys have been. I don't think it is so terrible. In the least of cases, it's listenable music. However, I found it far from good, and what's more, irrelevant. The reason? The melodies, or the lack of them (I have to agree with Chippa on this one). The set I've heard desperately needed stronger, more defined, well shaped melodies, those that when you stop listening to the song remain stuck in your head. All the production (which, like it or not, was very professional and features great mixes), the great vocal work, the good instrumentation, all of that couldn't make up for the absence of original, inspired, effective melodies. The choruses didn't stand out as choruses because they had no hooks, at least not well-achieved ones. The best songs of the set I've heard ("Walk between the lines" and "This love is strong") would be OK as complimentary songs for other stronger ones, but for being first dishes on their own I think they lack that hook or element that makes them unique. But, like I said before, it didn't go to the extreme of making the experience a suffering thing, it was just that it lacked something more special for me. Maybe between the songs I've missed there was something more interesting, I don't know. Hey Helmut, play these four songs, and then finish your review! At least three of them to me are by far the best songs on the CD, so they're worth giving a spin to me. "Down in the Lowlands" "Living on the Edge of Time" "Higher" "Breathe Life Into Me" Jim
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Post by Helmut83 on Aug 9, 2015 20:48:02 GMT
Jim, sorry but I think you didn't understand what I said there (maybe you read it on a fret). It's not that I didn't review those four songs because I didn't feel like it or I suddenly decided it was not worth giving them a spin. Again, they are not available in my country unfortunately, and pasting the link again doesn't solve the problem.
If you can upload and audio file with those 4 songs, I'd download it. Otherwise I can't listen to them.
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 9, 2015 21:49:12 GMT
Jim, sorry but I think you didn't understand what I said there (maybe you read it on a fret). It's not that I didn't review those four songs because I didn't feel like it or I suddenly decided it was not worth giving them a spin. Again, they are not available in my country unfortunately, and pasting the link again doesn't solve the problem. If you can upload and audio file with those 4 songs, I'd download it. Otherwise I can't listen to them. Ah, OK. Alright will see what I can do sometime, maybe will get the mp3 cd with my next check and send them to you. Jim
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Post by queenofthehours on Aug 10, 2015 16:22:58 GMT
1. Shake – A nice opening track. I like the guitar and the whole instrumentation here – very 80s. Reminds me of a song from the soundtrack of a great 80s movie. 2. Walk Between the Lines – I like the instrumentation here too. I like Russ, though I’ve never heard of him before, he seems like the kind of singer you could sing along to.
3. Do You Believe in Love? – No so keen on this one as it isn’t as upbeat but I do like those drums – big 80s drums :-)
4. Down in the Lowlands – Another great song, very catchy.
5. This Love is Strong – Maybe it’s just me but I can hear a little bit, just a little, of ‘Ticket to the Moon’ in here? Maybe it’s just my ears.
6. I Still Believe – I like this, my favourite so far. It reminds me of some of the best 80s tracks I know.
7. Steal Away – A bit of variation here with this track, a break from the 80s synths. Very folky.
8. Living on the Edge of Time – Magnificent 80s drums here. Magnificent guitar too.
9. Higher – Not a poor track so far. Another good one here. Huey Lewis comes to mind.
10. Breathe Life Into Me – Not my favourite, but it chugs along nicely; very pleasant. Is that some saxophone?
11. Healing Touch – I wouldn’t have ended with this track but it’s still a good tune, just not as upbeat as some of the others.
I didn't know Russ before and I like him. He's a good singer and the tunes are very 80s in a good way. It's a quality album.
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Post by jrmugz on Aug 17, 2015 19:11:01 GMT
1. Shake – A nice opening track. I like the guitar and the whole instrumentation here – very 80s. Reminds me of a song from the soundtrack of a great 80s movie. 2. Walk Between the Lines – I like the instrumentation here too. I like Russ, though I’ve never heard of him before, he seems like the kind of singer you could sing along to.
3. Do You Believe in Love? – No so keen on this one as it isn’t as upbeat but I do like those drums – big 80s drums :-)
4. Down in the Lowlands – Another great song, very catchy.
5. This Love is Strong – Maybe it’s just me but I can hear a little bit, just a little, of ‘Ticket to the Moon’ in here? Maybe it’s just my ears.
6. I Still Believe – I like this, my favourite so far. It reminds me of some of the best 80s tracks I know.
7. Steal Away – A bit of variation here with this track, a break from the 80s synths. Very folky.
8. Living on the Edge of Time – Magnificent 80s drums here. Magnificent guitar too.
9. Higher – Not a poor track so far. Another good one here. Huey Lewis comes to mind.
10. Breathe Life Into Me – Not my favourite, but it chugs along nicely; very pleasant. Is that some saxophone?
11. Healing Touch – I wouldn’t have ended with this track but it’s still a good tune, just not as upbeat as some of the others.
I didn't know Russ before and I like him. He's a good singer and the tunes are very 80s in a good way. It's a quality album.
Nice review, QOTH, enjoyed reviewing it. At last someone else who likes the song "I Still Believe". And I appreciate you didn't give "Higher" a bum rap either. Sometimes I don't get other peoples' judgments, but maybe it's the same ones who had "Letter From Spain" as the top song on "Secret Messages" at one point when we had that contest going the other year. Ha ha. One thing that's really funny is I think I made you guys think of Russ Taff as 80s, but he's actually very country and gospel for the most part. His album after this one was straightforward country-rock and then he switched to country for a while. Jim
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