At last the full length album, trailed for months on My Space by the sublime '
Why Do I?'
Now signed to Frontiers,
Work Of Art - Lars (Fanfields) Safsund, Robert Sall and Herman Furin - prove to be more than one trick ponies.
While none of the other eleven tracks are blessed with the immediacy or the sheer sugar rush of that opener, there's a clutch of sturdy, highly melodic songs here, full of towering hooks and memorable choruses that grow in stature with each repeated spin.
The means spirited will argue that '
Artwork' is no more than an homage, a highly derivative collection of earnest parodies. A band worshipping at the respective altars of legendary Melodic Rock and Westcoast Rock bands like Toto, Planet 3 and the LA Cowboys. (I have to admit that to me in places they sound very like Canadian melodic rock bands Total Stranger and Von Groove).
But '
Artwork' is so much more than that. It encapsulates a genre, an era, a time when this style of music was fresh, new and yes, innovative. And it does so, not by slavish imitation, but by creating music born out of sharp observation and outstanding songwriting. All the songs have a distinctly familiar air but they are instilled with confidence and maturity, with melodies as luscious, tantalising and as tempting as anything from the time it all began.
'Camelia', 'Once In A Lifetime' and '
Whenever You Sleep' are beautifully constructed, Toto-esque songs, with the trio showing they have the obsessive's ear for fine textural detail.
'
Her Only Lie', 'Peace Of Mind' and '
Lost Without Your Love' have all the majesty, passion and urgency that belongs to only the best AOR, pushed along by thumping bass lines, full of neat gearshifts into delicate middle eights and robust axe solos.
And of course, there is the song that sparked the interest, the one that created the online buzz, '
Why Do I?'. Owner of a heartstopping hook and a sensational keyboard motif, this track is an absolute world beater, sweetened by harmonies reminiscent of Christian Rock legends, Liaison and Idle Cure.
This opening track provides the album with an initial momentum which never flags for a single moment.
Over the piece it's unarguable that
Work Of Art mine a narrow seam. But that said, it's equally unarguable that '
Artwork' is an extremely satisfying accumulation of finely judged melodies and hooks, with some genuine nuggets among the gold.
Only January and a 2008 contender has already arrived.
Written by
Brian Thursday, January 17, 2008
Show all reviews by BrianRatingsBrian: 8/10Members: 8.37/10 - Average of 4 ratings.
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 | ProfessorShred
Rating: 8.5/10
This is simply an excellent album,great songwriting/compositional skills,passionate perfor... · Read more · |
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