There aren't many bands out there that work as hard as Last Autumn's Dream. Saturn Skyline ios the bands 4th album since their self titled debut back in 2004, and with what seems like a stable lineup these days, the band are moving along nicely. Mikael Erkandsson has done wonders over the last 4 years, and a lot of the bands sound has to be a credit to him. With ex Fates Warning's Andy Malecek and the rhytham section from Talisman in Marcel Jacob on bass and drummer Jamie Borger, even a first time listener to the band has to take them seriously.
The followup to last years Winter in Paradise has a lot to live up to. Winter in Paradise was a superb record, personally one of my picks as the best album of 2006, and certainly in my Top 10, and my only complaint about the album had been at times it had seemed a little too ballady,
Perhaps as is all to often the case, following up an album like that proves near to impossible, and that's the first big problem here. This isn't Winter in Paradise, and in some ways that's a shame. But before we go to far, that's not to say that Saturn Skyline is not a damned good album, it is, it just almost seems that this album should have come out before Winter in Paradise if that makes any sense what so ever.
One thing that hasn't changes, and has been rock solid on all of the bands albums, and that's the sound and the production. They're top notch, and that lets Erlandsson float in and out of the songs, using his voice to the fullest effect. Malecek again demonstrates his credentials as a top quality guitar player, driving the sound forward, rolling with the punches.
'Rock 'n Roll Is saving My Soul' is the first stand out track on the album, a full sounding ballad, the kind that Last Autumn's Dream are masters at. Erlandsson is fast becoming my favorite voice when it comes to ballads. The man just has this unique talent for making his voice sound like he's sat next to you, singning directly to you, and only you, and then stepping back into choruses and playing to the entire arena. I love that.
Malecek gets a real momment to shine in 'Critical', a much more rocky outing for the band, an almost club friendly track, and that's always been something I thought was lacking with the band, it was great to listen to at home but wasn't something that you could really imagine screaming out the PA at your local rock club, or that you would really want to. They're not quite there here, but they're certainly getting closer, and that's really nice to see.
All that said, what Last Autumn's Dream have done with Saturn Skyline is create a much more rocking album, a much less calming introspective album, and one that I really hope they will build on, when with current precedent we see the bands 5th album in 2008. The potential appeal for the band is huge, yet they still seem to need a slice of luck to get passed that hurdle of originally having 3 members of Europe in the ranks, way back in 2004.
This is not the same band as then, and deserve the credit that goes with it.
If you like good music, that's what you've got here, forget labels, forget preconceptions, sit back and enjoy it.
Lineup:
Mikael Erlandsson - Vocals
Andy Malecek - Guitars
Marcel Jacob - Bass
Jamie Borger - Drums
| Track Listing | 1. For The Young and The Wild
2. The Wild
3. Pages
4. Rock 'n Roll Is Saving My Soul
5. I Know A Lot About Love
6. Critical
7. Supersonic
8. Frozen Heart
9. American Girl
10. Domino
11. Still On The Run |
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| Overall rating: |
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7.6 |
| Artwork: |
|
7.0 |
| Production: |
|
9.0 |
| Music Quality: |
|
8.0 |
| Lyrics: |
|
7.0 |
| Overall: |
|
7.0 |
Reviewed by Mike Elliott
June 09, 2007
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