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Rob Lailan

Life

Review by Gary Hill

Sometimes less is more. I think that would probably be true on this album. Had it been cut down, taking out a few of the weaker songs and focusing more on the strengths, I think this would be a better set. There is a somewhat awkward DIY quality to this that sometimes has a charm to it. Other times, I think further tweaking would have made for a stronger album. Overall, I think this is an album that lands on the good side of the spectrum, but could have been much better.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2024  Volume 3 More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2024.

Track by Track Review
Coming Home
There is a strange artsy angle on display here. It has some pop rocking angles at the same time, too. The overall effect is basically alternative pop.
Bulletproof

More of a pure rocker, this still has some of that unique angle at play.

Roses in the Rain

Not a big change, this is another piece of music that seems like it's cut from much the same cloth as the previous one was.

You Ain't the One

Edgier and more driving, this has a lot of hard rocking sound in the mix. It still has a definite DIY nature to it.

Up & Down

Here we get another edgy number with a lot of DIY angles to it. It's not a big change, and the formula is really beginning to wear thin. This does have a little more of a keyboard angle to it, though.

The End of Time

This has some hooks that manage to be rather catchy. I also like the instrumental break quite a bit. While this still has the sort of DIY awkwardness of the rest we've heard to this point, it manages to transcend it pretty well.

Out of Here

More straight-ahead rocking, the DIY angles and over-used format really mar this one. It's the first track that completely misses for me.

Believe

Starting on piano, Lailan seems to be trying to pull off a Beatles "Yesterday" at the start of this track. It works out from there to something different. The strangeness is more charm than hindrance on this, and the track works better than some of the rest here.

A Life Without Goodbyes

With a good balance between an almost arena prog sound and a more rocking one, this is one of the more effective pieces here. It still has plenty of that DIY thing, but it gels a little better here.

Nothing Can Bring You Down

For a moment at the start of this, Lailan seems to try to channel "Lucy in the Sky.' This is edgier and darker than that. The DIY edge works better on this than on some of the rest. There is a trippy angle and plenty of artsy vibe at play.

This Time

Coming in mellower, this works out to more basic rocking sound from there. This is another that manages to work pretty well. Again, the awkwardness is more of a charm on this. I like the keyboard sounds on this.

Never Going to Walk Away From You

There is an almost prog angle as this gets underway. It works out from there to more of the same kind of DIY rock sound we've heard throughout from there. It tends to drag a little.

I Remember

This one works better than a lot of the rest. I'd consider it a highlight of the set. It's keyboard based, a bit mellower and a little on the bouncy side.

Life

Now, the awkwardness is much more prominent here. It tends to get in the way on this track.

 
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