REECE - review added 7th August 2009
Album Review: Universal Language (2009)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and Cluedo
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Reece =
is built=20
around the vocals of David Reece, best known as the one-time singer for =
Accept.=20
David has been playing and recording for over 20 years and, according to =
his=20
website, was brought up on a diet of Conway Twitty and Tammy Wynette. =
Hardly a=20
recipe for a rock vocalist but, with his raucous gravelly style, he =
seems to=20
have circumnavigated the perils of Country Music.
"My first Rock and Roll records were Deep Purple (Machine Head) and = Alice=20 Cooper (Schools Out). I remember listening to their music and staring at = the LP=20 covers for hours," he says, and you can certainly hear those influences. = His=20 music is classic and weighty, but there's a happy air to the sound... = even in=20 the more saddening moments. Put that down partly to the vocals, mostly = to the=20 production by co-writer and guitarist Andy Susemihl. Joining Andy and = David are=20 Jochen F=C3=BCnders on bass and Stefan Schwarzmann on drums.
The songs vary between the distinctly average and the frankly superb. = Opening=20 track 'Before I Die' is a rock 'n' rolling start to the album. The bass = drives=20 the track along and the chorus is hugely memorable. It's an uplifting = track and=20 sets the bar at a soaring height. 'All The Way' is a likeable if = unexciting=20 track, whilst 'Flying Close To The Flame' is a fast paced number with a = party=20 atmosphere. David sounds not dissimilar to a lived-in version of Steve = Newman...=20 and that's a good thing.
'Fantasy Man' is a decent enough song, although the chorus borders on = the=20 land of cheese. 'The River' is a hard hitting track with an unusual, = cool twang.=20 It's reminiscent of Warrant's 'Uncle Tom's Cabin', but not so close the=20 similarity grates. 'Rescue Me' is a cracking song with a speaker busting = chorus.=20 The verses are nothing special, but that climax is hugely powerful.
'Once In A Lifetime' is another track with a distinctly average verse = boosted=20 by a strong chorus. It sounds like it lacks energy but, with the way it = builds,=20 it ends as a strong entry. No such doubts about 'We Were Alive'. It's a = monster=20 with big scaly horns and a fire-filled bottom that could melt concrete. = David=20 gives it his everything and, on this evidence, he's got a lot to = share.
The mid-paced rocker 'Flesh And Blood' keeps matters in positive = territory.=20 Ballad 'Queen Of My Dreams' follows it with a straight ahead, stripped = back, no=20 bullsh*t sound that's highly refreshing. It's a top song and contrasts = superbly=20 with the chest-beating sound of the rest of the album. 'Yellow' closes = the album=20 in a nutty and fun fashion. It's a song I want to hate but don't. = Colonel=20 Mustard has never been so cool.
This is definitely one of those albums that's close to brilliance but = has too=20 much padding to truly shine. The best songs are magnificent, but it = could have=20 done with a couple more recording/writing sessions to find a few more = gems. As=20 is, few people will come away from Universal Language disappointed; = especially=20 when you consider how strong the second half is.
Check out... The second half.
Overall Score 86%
What does this score mean ?
Add your own thoughts on this album =
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Track List:
1. Before I Die
2. All The Way
3. Flying Close To The =
Flame
4.=20
Fantasy Man
5. The River
6. I=E2=80=99ll Remember You
7. Rescue =
Me
8. Once=20
In A Lifetime
9. We Were Alive
10. Flesh And Blood
11. Queen Of =
My=20
Dreams
12. Yellow
Label: Metal Heaven
Artist's =
website(s): Reece ,
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