| Two Of A Kind Two Of A Kind | Frontiers Records FRCD326 |
|
|
For those that were disappointed in the direction Heart have taken in recent years, take note of this record! This is a wonderful release that mixes the styles of European melodic rock with the direction and vocal sound of classic 80s era Heart! I'm not sure which of the two lead vocalists is Ann Wilson and which is Nancy, but together they sound amazing and at times I swear I was listening to the Brigade record or even the poppier Bad Animals. The songs and musical backing comes from the brains trust of Fred Hendrix (Terrra Nova), hence the strong European melodic rock influence over the sound. Having been disappointed in the last couple of Hendrix directed records, it is with great pleasure that I state that he has nailed it this time around. This is simply melodic bliss, with some fine rock songs surrounded in harmonies and multiple hooks. The rockers are good, but the mid-tempo tracks and slower ballads are simply divine and I imagine fans of pure AOR and female fronted bands are going to adore this record. Even when the band are rocking (Light in the Dark, Heaven Can Wait, Whole Again, To The Top), the sound is bathed in keyboards and harmonies. But it is the pure AOR tracks that go right over the top. The Longest Night is simply glorious with its light Van Hagar style guitar riff and monster chorus; Give Me a Reason is pure 80s Heart complete with dual harmonies and so many hooks it is amazing; the breezy, uptempo acoustic driven Into the Fire is perfect and the more laid back mid-tempo In Your Arms is equally lush. Little By Little is perhaps the only track that fails to match the great choruses of the songs that surround it. As for slower numbers – Unbearable and I Die A Little More Everyday both fit the bill as far as lighter-in-the-air 80s power ballads.
|
31/10/09: Chad - rpgeek12@netscape.net
21/08/07: koogles - endangeredcds@Hotmail.com
23/06/07: restless one - rocksteady.com
18/05/07: Noddy - jonferg@nortel.com
17/05/07: Hans - floki@home.nl
17/05/07: Rob - exodus91rd@hotmail.com
17/05/07: Jos Siemers - deepspacenine@planet.nl
Rating: 95
Really well done and I'm glad to see it was popular. Those ladies can really sing.
Rating: 96
It's been a long time since I've heard a female-fronted melodic release of this calibre. You'll have to go back... WAAYYY back... to the early 90s (Devay's "Break Down the Walls", Darby Mills' "Never Look Back", Heart's "Brigade" and Laos' "We Want It") since anything of this quality has hit the streets. "Light in the Dark", "Give Me A Reason" and "The Longest Night" are among the best songs I've heard all year... and they're stacked at the start of this very impressive release. Think of the recent Blanc Faces release that you may have rated highly and just change the gender of the lead vocals. Without question, the best female-fronted AOR CD from the last 15 years.
Rating: 95
This is one hell of an album,pure melodic bliss and the best new female fronted rock band in years. My last favourite AOR female fronted band were Witness s/t. and that was some time ago. Great songs are (The longest night,)(Give me a reason),(Light in the dark), ahh what the hell their all good!! Two of a Kind is an essential BUY !!
Rating: 95
Wonderful! The best "new" female fronted AOR album in years. This is perfect fodder for fans of Saraya, Witness and Robin Beck (who's last album lacked killer songs - hoping for better things this time around). Even the godmothers of rock, Ann and Nancy Wilson would have been proud to have recorded a couple of the tracks on show here. Congrats to Fred, and of course Esther and Anita too!! :))
Rating: 94
A great AOR release. Superbe female vocals. Fred and his mates show us that the Netherlands isn't lost for making this kind of music. Let's hope they get the change to play live in teh near future.
Rating: 93
wow this one rocks, i like it. Great vocals great hooks nice melodies.
Rating: 99
Totally agree ! Everything Fred does is great, Terra Nova, Aquila and now Two Of A Kind. This is what AOR is all about.
I am proud they are from the Netherlands. It is a disgrace they are practically unknown over here.
To recap, a great package, great music, beautiful artwork and a production that is better than most Frontiers releases.
ADD YOUR OWN REVIEW! (Ratings out of 100)
