| CD REVIEW Innocent Rosie |
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Band : Innocent Rosie During 2005, the members of this band (singer Oscar Kaleva, guitarist Joel Eliasson, bassist Olaf Oljelund and drummer Benjamin Baräng) came together in the town of Varberg (situated some 70 kms South from Goteborg, by the shoreline) from different parts of sweden, with the intent to create a new form of Rock ‘n’ Roll which was to take elements of all of their individual influences, ranging from Blues to explosive Hard Rock. With the added image and cock-sure attitude from the Sleeze scene, the guys set forth to create their music, and shortly after their first gig they started heading out all over Europe…and playing in the US several times (they were even at the famed Whisky A-Go-Go in Los Angeles). In June 2008 the guys released their first music video “Knock Me Out”, finding it became an instant hit! It became the most played Rock video on Swedish MySpaceTV, and became one of the most popular Rock ‘n’ Roll videos of 2008! Returning home from yet another tour in the US in the Fall, the band took out time to record their full-length 12-track debut album for the Swedmetal label, to which they had been signed in the meantime! Expect a lead singer with a degree of rawness in his voice being expertly backed by his bandmates (making for a high sing along factor), and catchy yet rauchy music (for the most part at a fair pace) with great rhythm/ lead guitar interplay. Nice solos to boot! Also, a rock-steady rhythm section with pounding drums. To make for some variety in their songs, a couple of ‘em (“Sextalkin’”, “Don’t Drag Me Down”, and “I’ll get Rich”) get the added flavouring of piano and mouth harmonica (“Let A Memory Die” and “Don’t Drag Me Down” again). For “Shine, Shine,Shine”, the band chose for a calmer approach, making for a balladesque feel without acoustics, and for album closer “Left Alone” the Glam tag was dropped altogether to make for a more direct Rock/Metal touch! At myspec.com/rosieisbleeding, you can listen to all songs on the album except “Ill Get Rich” (weird uh?). What with the album been out for such a good deal of time, it’s been getting positive reviews from many magazines and websites (check the list in the blogs at the band’s MySpace) and it’s also reached the #1 spot in the Swedish Hard Rock charts (#13 in the less specific charts) in early May 2009. Eventually, one Dixxi was added to the line-up to handle the lead guitar. You’ll be able to witness his prowess on the European tour the band’s is undertaking starting September 10 [after an Italian tour follow the UK and Spain, with additional one-off shows in Toulouse (France), Uster (Switzerland), and a threesome of gigs in Germany before the guys head back to Scandinavia. That means you won’t be able to catch IR live in this specific area…but beg ‘em hard enough and they might just put your hometown’s venue on their next tour schedule! 85/100 Tony. |