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The Livesays

Not What I Bargained For

Review by Gary Hill

I've reviewed a couple other sets from this act in the past. They consistently produce catchy music with a lot of old-school sound in the mix. I'd say that this is perhaps more along the lines of things like Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams than some of the previous sets. It's a little meatier with a little less emphasis on the pop end of the spectrum. It also might be the most consistent release I've reviewed from this group.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2022  Volume 3. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2022.

Track by Track Review
Two Sides
There is a real 70s rock groove to this. I'm reminded of Bruce Springsteen to a large degree.
One More Chance
A cool rocker, I like this one a lot. It's got a dropped back, folky kind of movement to temper that more rocking chorus section.
What I Bargained For
I can make out both The Beatles and Roy Orbison on this tune. It's another classy cut.
Drunkard’s Lament
There is a bluesy Southern rock angle to this. Yet I'm also reminded of Bryan Adams a little. That's tempered with some Allman Brothers angles.
Show A Little Honesty
Starting on piano, this is bluesy ballad that really has some particularly expressive guitar soloing later.
Hold Me
This is a hard rocking number with a real 50s sound on display. I'm again reminded of Orbison.
In A Small Town
With an arrangement built around acoustic guitar and other instrumentation serving to augment it, this is another ballad. There is a lot of emotion in the delivery. My one complaint on this song is that it seems to go on a bit long. 
If I Should Ever Fall Behind
Coming in mellower and more balladic, this works out to a soulful, gospel music inspired bluesy mid-tempo song structure.
In Troubled Times
I dig the slide guitar that dances around on this thing. The tune has more of a blues rock approach. It seems to live in the middle ground between ballad and rocker.
Better Angels
A classy rocking sound is on the menu here. This is solid, but not a standout.
Can’t Stop The Taking
Here we get another evocative ballad. I'm again reminded of Bryan Adams on this number. 
Crazy, Isn’t It?
Starting with piano this works out to a classy melodic rock groove from there. I'm reminded a little of The Beatles on this, but that Bryan Adams thing is present, too. Perhaps there is a little Rod Stewart in the mix, too. This is one of the most effective pieces here, making it a great choice for closer.
  
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