Melodica Special Feature Showcase

21/02/03: Bigmike - bigmike@hotmail.com
Forget the zero scores. An album has to be pretty bad for it to score zero. These people probably just hate Ted.

Yeah the vocals aren't the best quality you ever heard but there are 3 or 4 good songs here at least which is more than I can say for "BIG". "The Hardest Part of Love" track kicks ass in particular. The style is similiar to "LOVEMETAL" but the song writing isn't as good and its not as heavy. Still its an OK release if you like melodic rock.

10/11/01: Jonny B - pelivor@hotmail.com
Melodica's debut could've been a classic if Ted Poley's vocals weren't so out-of-tune! I hope the people at Frontiers do this album a favor and reissue it with better production. But quality of the production doesn't hurt the rating much from my point-of-view. What matters is Ted and co. have created an album that sticks to one style of music: Good ol' AOR/Melodic Rock! (That's a hint, Danger Danger!!!!!) If you hate the production, at least check out "Hardest Part of Love" definitely classic D2 in the making there. Melodica scores a point to tie the score:
The Score Board:
Ted Poley and Melodica - 1
Danger Danger - 1

10/11/00: The Sims - ssanti@tin.it
Good day , i am a AOR fan from 15 years, my best band

started with Bad English to Harem Scarem and now FIORE.

ok ,the Melodica stuff is almost near to kill my love for Fiore,
it's an incredibly beautiful CD or Mp3s to have,

first ,Ted Poley is Out of tune all the time ,making this
CD a MUST HAVE, where else you get such fantastic sound??

the song TAKE ME AWAY 2nd verse ,is absolutely out of tune
but that make it a great song more than others in the CD,
WHY?

because it make you humming it in the shower , car or whatever
in the exact wrong and out of tune way ,fantastic stuff!!

i love it.

The songs on this CD are all first rate, never before i managed
to hear a FULL CD to the end ,this one is sticking in my head
like a vampire, watch out for NEVER LET YOU GO
and the self-titled LONG WAY FROM HOME , the purest AOR around.

Go out and get this CD while you're alive ,no second chances.

This site rocks big jingle bells ,and the reviews are cool,
maybe little unfair for this Album, but it's ok.

i am italian and live in USA ...i am...

A LONG WAY FROM HOME!!!

:)

05/10/00: Mike Corbett - mcorbett13@home.com
This CD was way better than I expected. Being a big Danger Danger fan I was very excited to see Melodica come about. I was concerned that after Ted Poley's solo effort he might stray off of the rock path, but this album is just awesome. I have heard stories that the production is not very good; well this is crazy. Ted's writing, vocals, and music rock. Anyone who doubts this is for real, I dare you to listen to "Never Let You Go". I have played this song for people who don't listen to this music genre and they ask me who this guy is with the great voice. GET THIS CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

30/08/00: Astra Merlin Blue - Astra_Blue@talk21.com
I agree with you totally Lesley-Ann. I love this album and I play it non stop ever since buying it. I can't wait for the next one as everything that Ted does is superb!I think that Ted's vocals are great on the album and the musicianship of Gerhard Pichler is fantastic! This cd is a must in any rock fans cd collection. I have been in touch with Ted myself, and he reassures me that the next album will be a killer! Love and respect to Ted and all his fans!*******ASTRA******

21/08/00: skip, m - YamaR6Racr@aol.com
i would like to start by saying i am a big D2 fan,with and without ted poley. the songwriting is good on this cd, and it has its moments where it is very good. but from the first listen there was just something that wasnt right with it. the vocals just dont fit the songs in most spots. to this musical ear almost everything ted sings seems off key, or it seems that ted is trying not to give the powerful performance his voice usually gives. it seems he is trying to hold back. and maybe this causes him to be off key. i will still listen to this cd because it is good in the songwriting are but i have to say i was very disappointed in the vocal delivery...

18/08/00: Carsten Schwarz - casyblack1@aol.com
Im a great german fan from Ted Poley and I think his voice is the greatest voice on earth !
Good Luck to Danger Danger only Ted !!!!

18/08/00: Nadia Alterio - nadiaalterio2000@aol.com
My only complaint is that each of the songs I played started out with "hearing you calling"????

16/08/00: Lesley-Ann - Lesley.adams1@talk21.com
I personally think that this is one of the best three albums that I have bought this year. Ted Poley's vocal delivery on each track contains a lot of emotional content,indicating that the songs are a personal issue. The blending of the superb musicianship with these vocals have produced an outstanding result which can only improve with time.. As for Ted being out of tune, How can he be when he co-wrote them? also with regards to him not sounding as he did when with Danger Danger> Why would he this is Melodica not D2.The conclusion being that this is a well played and sung album which makes me glad to be a melodic rock fan. Outstanding trax--All of them! Lesley-Ann^^^^^^^^^

04/08/00: Craig - craig.conley@ey.com
I have always been a big Ted Poley fan from his Danger Danger days. I was very sad to see him leave D2, because he was the classic sound that made the band. I haven't gotten into their replacement and they are just not the same. All in all, this album is very good. I do have the Bone Machine albums as well, but Melodica just has something extra. The "melodies" of the tracks are right there but the only downfall they have are really the background vocals. Maybe that's where the downfall may be rather than Ted being out of tune. Maybe next album, they could get some help from Hugo or Gary Hughes in that background vocals department since they are on the same label. I have and always will appreciate new material from Poley and any minor flaws just goes with the territory.

31/07/00: nordenlight - bbarwell@telerama.com
While I don't totall agree with Par's comments, I must say that this disc contains a bunch of
excellent songs that are almost completely ruined by the vocal tone. It's almost completely
off the key the music is in. I am not a big fan of the D2 stuff with Ted (too cheesy), I really liked
his Bone Machine material. That stuff was poorly produced, but there were great tunes and they
were in key. For the tone deaf out there, this is a disc full of great tunes. But wow, it's so off key.
I saw Ted's comments on this site regarding the "problem" & I just don'y buy it. His comparisons
just don't pertain to the style of music on this disc. This may work for G N R, but not Journey.
AOR and off key vocals do not mix AT ALL. Sorry, but this disc should have been remixed
before it's release. Could have been top 10 for the songs, but...

22/07/00: Tim.S - timbo@1earth.net
Dissapointing. I really think Ted has done a lot better. Besides average production which everyone
mostly agrees on It just hasn't grabbed me like Bone Machine or Danger Danger. I am really
trying my best to appreciate this album but only 3 or 4 tracks stand out.
Remember poor production isn't everything though. Good songs make up for poor production..
Listen to Amaze Me's albums.
I mean how many times do we hear a great album which is beautifully produced and then go to
see them live and think " Geez they sound crap. His voice sounds shit out".
I think with the sound Melodica has given us though is more a raw sound which is very easy to reoproduce
live.
Ted still sounds great and has a gifted voice but I will admit in a couple of tracks I thought he
sounded a bit off. Hey not everybody's perfect!
I know my opinion won't make everybody happy but that's just life. I am not here to put any artist
down. These guys are talented musicians and will only get better and better. I've done exactly
as the title says " Add Your Own Review "
Just remember it's people like us that listen and appreciate AOR music and know a lot more than
some magazines do otherwise we would'nt be looking at this website. I think the artists would
appreciate our opinions more than them magazines because we are the fans.
And No I do not like Korn Don. Ive been a fan of AOR for many many years. I'm 33 years old
not 15.

21/07/00: Alex Lee Ericsson - Alex Lee Ericsson@yahoo.com
huh...you gotta be KIDDING guys, Ted�s singing is out of tune in EVERY single song, sure his voice is good,but i�d say that he�s in deep trouble in this album,�cause he doesn�t use producer...i mean he SHOULD. i love the first D2 album very much,and there was no problem at all (with. ted�s singin�) but find out yourself,and if you disagree with me,you better get your ears checked...better luck next time...p.s( S.Perry RULES)

19/07/00: KEVIN N - bmtp1@aol.com
The more i listen to this cd the better it gets..I tell you if the song BEST FRIEND can make it to AOR radio it will for sure be a number #1 HIT without a doubt..A totally amazing rock ballad!!!

13/07/00: Wolf - cgmb8@allstate.com
I agree with Don. The new Melodica cd is definately one of the best cds I've bought this year. Teds vocals are great, and Gerhard delivers some smoking solo's. I think Andrew's score on this cd is too low. It should be around 92%. All of the songs on the cd are great. Anyone that likes early Danger Danger needs to get into this immediately! Hey Par-you SO need to get a Miracle Ear or Adjust the one you already have. I can't believe you would write such a ridiculous review!

07/07/00: Don Hosler - lthrby2@webtv.net
I'd like to know when Par's next CD is coming out. He obviously doesn't know what he's listening to (or maybe he's the president of the Korn fan club.) The Melodica CD is one of the best melodic ]hard rock CDs I've heard this year. Maybe the production isn't quite as defined as D2s first album (that costs alot of money!) but the songs are catchy and full of emotion. The vocals are as good as anything Ted recorded with D2 and the instrumentation very much reminds me of early 80s Journey. Par should be thankful someone out there is keeping quality music alive in the face of this alternacrap on the radio, and support all who do the best they can with what they have to deliver the kind of music they want to make and their fans want to hear. Can't wait to hear you do better, Par !

29/06/00: kevin n - bmtp1@aol.com
This cd will he huge if it gets out to the mainstream..Best hard rock cd i have heard in several years..Ted Poley is one of the best vocalists, to grace the rock world..

20/06/00: P�r Winberg - par.winberg@swipnet.se
I mostly agree with you Andrew, but on this album I must say you're completely wrong. This is actually the worst AOR - album I've heard in a VERY long time. Ted Poley's voice is out of tune all the time, and the production sounds like a lousy demo. It's as I said the worst piece of shit you can buy, and I'm really dissapointed at Ted for delivers such lousy vocals... blah...

ADD YOUR OWN REVIEW!

INTERVIEW!

Interview with Ted Poley & Gerhard Pilcher of Melodica - June 2000.

OK Ted and Gerhard....
Time to play you off each other and get some truly honest answers!!!
Lets talk about the making of Melodica.

First up - I have known you both separately for a while - Gerhard you were looking for a singer, how did you guys hook up?
Gerhard: Actually our first contact was in July 1999 per e-mail. I took his e-mail address out of " Metal Edge" magazine here in the US and just gave it a shot. He's always been one of my favourite singers since Danger Danger and to be honest I never thought to work with him one day but on the other hand if you don't try you'll never find out.
As you know I was already in contact with other celebrated singers before and I could feel it's just a matter of time 'til I find the right one. All of the guys liked the songs but were too busy with their own stuff at that time. So with Ted everything started falling into place right from the start.
Ted: Yeah, I was contacted by Gerhard by e-mail.

Ted - did you put off your solo album for this project?
I did and I will continue to out if off and work on the next Melodica for now. I do have several cool songs for the solo CD eventually though.

What were you first impressions of each other?
To be honest my first impression was this guy looks like a nice fellow. I was wondering a little how our first contact would look like since you never know what to expect. So I took the bus from New Jersey to Pennsylvania where Ted lives and was pretty nervous since I knew this could be the right one. We saw each other and the rest is history...(laughs)
I thought he was very cool and really knew his stuff when we first got together. He is always very prepared, very professional.

Seriously, you thought each other looked weird or something right?
First of all I was happy to see that Ted still got long hairs which was a good indicator that he obviously didn't change too much since his Danger Danger days in terms of finding a new identity as a musician. To be honest at this point I don't see that happening playing rock music with short hairs. I think the fans are expecting a certain thing when you're buying this kind of music . I never understood why so many other people changed and gave up their vision but maybe I'm living too much in a cliché. If I look at people on stage I prefer to see a lot of smiling and long hairs when playing AOR/melodic rock.
No! I was happy to see that he was not weird looking!

OK, so you are hanging out together, what are the first songs you jammed on?
The first one we did was " It's not enough " which Ted sang with a cheesy plastic mic that he brought from Japan, which has a built in reverb (laughs). But even with this "equipment" I immediately heard that's exactly what I've been always been looking for. I walked into his basement had a look at his CD collection which looks exactly identical to mine and I knew this is going to be lot of fun. That's one thing which I found out over the years, if the roots are not the same you're probably gonna have a pretty tough time with each other .... After the first chorus of "It's Not Enough" he stopped singing and asked me how I like it and my response was just: wow this blows me away, that's what I had in mind all the time.
I made up It's Not Enough and sang it into my little toy microphone that I use to write everything on. I think we scanned through the CD of his ideas and I came up with a few hooks that eventually turned into some cool songs.

Gerhard, you had the some of the music there already, how did you collaborate to create the finished product?
Ted came to New York City to do all the vocals in the studio and there was never any debating or arguing going on about between the 2 of us how things should be done which made the whole thing a lot of fun. Since we're on the same page the whole thing became so effortless - unbelievable.
Gerhard gave me a CD of backing tracks and I wrote the rest based on that.

And what were the first songs finished for the album?
As far as I remember we started with "Come Runnin" & "Sleeping with the enemy". We did first all the lead vocals before we continued with the harmony vocals.

I will go out on a limb and describe the style as classic smooth AOR, but it's pretty damn catchy! I swear I had a tune in my head for 2 days....
Thanks! That's the highest compliment you can give a songwriter!
That's what we planned from the very beginning. The whole album should be very melodic and catchy with good hook lines and even better then that Ted came up with the name MELODICA which I liked immediately because it represents such good what our idea is all about. It's about time to bring back some happy melodic rock!
I just read an interview with Angus Young where he said: I didn't start rock music to become depressed which is true for me also. I personally don't get it to sing all the time how life
sucks because this doesn't change anything at all - not yourself and not the rest of the world either. If you don't realize at one point in your life that you're responsible for your own life and your own decisions you're going nowhere except all the way south if you know what I mean.

Any possibility of some live dates? The Gods this year maybe?
Yes, plenty. And yes to the Gods shows too...
There are some plans for fall with Europe and maybe Japan but I would say it all depends how the album does and how the fans respond to MELODICA.

You two have obviously enjoyed working together - what's been the best part?
Everything is very professional and we show each other respect, which is very important because without any kind of respect every relationship dies sooner or later. For me it's like I've always dreamed of: quick and painless. Let's focus on the music since this is the most important thing.
The whole experience has been wonderful!

And are there any future plans in place as early as now?
Yes, an acoustic unplugged CD in the can and another Melodica CD in the works.

Is there anything you would like to say to the fans out there?
Thanks to everyone and I hope to see you all soon!
Please visit my website - www.tedpoley.com for the latest updates and merchandise.
Please help us keeping AOR/melodic rock alive since most of the world is too much depressed anyway. I would say to let people know that MELODICA exists and try all you can to make it successful. But I think it's important to take always just one step at a time.
I've been waiting for such a long time to get to this point where I finally meet all those great people so there's no real hurry to make it happen by tomorrow.
We wanted to do the first album as good as possible before we step to the next level, which always needs some experience in advance.

Anything either of you would like to add?
It's always important to have the right people around you who share the same vision because for me in the end it's still a team effort, which creates success. It's never just one person by him/herself and I'm very grateful for all the people that I've met over the last 10 years who showed me the right direction to go.
I would like to give a special thanks to you and melodicrock.com for helping keep our style of music alive and kicking! How was that for an ass kiss? Smooch!!

What other projects do you both have in mind?
Currently I am most excited about this Melodica CD and the possibilities it has opened up for us. So I will devote my full energy to this band and the next CD and the future touring! More fun than I have had in years!
First of all my main priority at this point is definitely MELODICA and my work with Ted. To make things happen and gain some more experience with other people in the years to come. You have to see before I came to the US I had this dream for over 10 years to work with all those great musicians and to meet my idols. I remember I started this little book in the early eighties where I took names of CDs of all the people I always admired. After just 1 1/2 years I can
say I already met a few of them which is unreal.
People like Ted or Jonathan Move (who is gonna play on the second MELODICA album) and even Mastering guru Greg Calbi who was one of my favourite Mastering Engineers ever since . So to work with all those guys is like a dream is finally comin' true and I'm really grateful for that.
I think that's pretty much it for me. Again thanks so much for this opportunity to promote our album.
Thanks so much mate !!!!
Have a good one ,

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