Music Street Journal - Music News & Reviews

Non-Prog CD Reviews

Because Villains Yes Review by Gary Hill This three-song EP is exceptionally effective. I'm not even a huge fan of this kind of music, but this works so well that it makes a believer out of me. What we get here stylistically is something that seems to straddle the territory between alternative rock and modern pop music, but there are other things here, as well. However you classify or label it, though, it's well done. This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2021 Volume 3. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2021.

Track by Track Review

The Feeling An acoustic guitar based tune as it gets underway, there is a lot of style and charm on this. It electrifies later. It has alternative rock, jazz and modern pop all built into it. The vocal line has some moments where it seems a bit too trendy, but overall this works really well. It's a great opener, and I love the contrast between the earlier acoustic based moments and the harder rocking ones later. I really dig the melodic guitar solo, too.

Painkillers This meaty alternative rocker really ups the ante. As strong as the opener was, this is much better. It's a bit meatier and edgier. Yet there are still some infectious hooks. It is a diverse tune working through a number of different sections, too.

There Is Us I love some of the instrumental riffs and jamming on this tune. The cut is a bit more of a generic alternative rocker, but it's also very effective. There are no missteps on this EP, so you know this has to be good, too. I just tend to find the first two cuts a little more adventurous and unexpected.

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