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Artist: Tall Stories |
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Mention
the name of Tall Stories and people say who?, but mention Steve
Augeri and people say ... yes wasn’t he the guy who sang for Journey
when Steve Perry left? But there is so much more to Augeri
than just a singer in Journey, way before he hit the spotlight in one of
the biggest bands around Steve was indeed leading a band that have for me
got more meat on their bones than anything Journey have put out. And
with a new year and the tolls of Journey behind him, Augeri returns with
the original Tall Stories line-up for an album that will put the rest the
critics. 'Skyscraper'
is very much a mixed bag of styles that suits Augeri to the ground much
more than I must say his Journey years. This album is more Hard Rock
than Melodic Rock this album has in places some quite surprising moments
and some interesting one’s too. The
album itself opens up with ‘Tomorrow’ and instantly all thoughts of
this being a Journey appreciation album are thrown out of the window and
Augeri shows he has a much better voice than simply a Perry sound
alike. This up tempo rocker is a real treat and with Jack Morer
giving this fine start to an album a real kick with some fine guitar
playing. 'Clementine'
is very much a funk based rocker very Prince like with just a touch of
Lenny Kravitz and again makes me wonder why Augeri left the band in the
first place, because this type of thing goes more with his vocal strengths
and will surely set tongues wagging amongst the Melodic Rock fraternity. One
of my favourites off the album has to be ‘Original Sin’ which starts
off with a little funky vibe but builds into a real mood ridden modern
slice of pure Rawk, this is very commercial and would make an obvious
single and mark the return of Augeri for sure, but I think some of the
diehard Melodic Rock and Journey fans will miss the point on this one and
many more songs off the album. ‘All
Of The World’ is one track that will appeal the those Melodic Rock fans
who only know Augeri from his Journey material this isn’t quite Journey,
but thankfully is only close to that time in his life, I hope he is trying
to steer away from with this album. Where
as the last track is a reminder of Journey the next one ‘Pictures Of
Summer’ is just Augeri at his finest mellow rock best, with the
semi-acoustic guitars and simple drum and bass melodies this is another
stand out track from the band. But
if good honest Hard Rock is what floats your boat then ‘River Rise’ is
right up your street this is again a modern approach to the Melodic/Hard
Rock vibe and is just the injection the whole scene needs, although some
will say there is a little Led Zep in this one, well who cares it’s a
great track and Morer’s guitar work on this one is just superb. The
album gets a little southern funk feel with ‘No Justice’ and again
that touch of Prince comes back in Augeri’s vocal, this again is just
great it’s a sort of track you just want to here on those long hot
summer nights. The
band mix things up big style with the up tempo rocker ‘Eternal Light’,
again there is a hint of Funk bass lines but these are soon overwhelmed by
Augeri’s vocals, but track of the album has to be the magnificent
‘Stay’, this is where Augeri shows his might and Morer’s fine guitar
work show why this duo should continue and to hell with what’ gone
before the scene is crying out for albums like this if it to go forward. That
southern vibe is back with the Jack Daniels blues feel, complete with
slide guitar of ‘You Shall Be Free’, a real sitting on the porch
watching the world go by track and as the Gospel Choir sings out behind
you (well you’ll know what I mean when you listen to it). The
album closes with ‘Superman’, a bluesy track ridden seven minutes
forty three of bliss filled with harmonica and slow guitars, and rounds
off what is a quite surprising release that has been on constant rotation
here and will continue for many months to come I’m sure. |
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Tracklisting:
1. Tomorrow |
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All content copyright of The Mayfair Mall Zine unless otherwise stated. |
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