Already Gone: One Good Reason

Three years after setting the ball rolling, UK Classic/Melodic Rockers Already Gone are here with their debut album One Good Reason. Fusing together elements of everything from Free to Bon Jovi, via Nickleback and The Eagles, the end results land somewhere between good time boogie, classy MHR and a more Bluesy Classic Rock attack. Songs such as "Cry Baby" and the cleverly titled "Stop, Drop, Rock And Roll" show a band full of energy, not to mention one with an ear for a gnawing guitar line that eats its way into your subconscious. Singer Luke Maskery, who featured on the UK TV programme "Stars In Their Eyes" as a Jon Bon Jovi clone when he was only eighteen, adds strong, if somewhat limited vocals to the mix. The boy sure can sing, however the high notes sound like they are hard work, although not to the extent that it really detracts from the songs. Guitarist Dan Nutt is the star of the show, with his riffs and searing solos being the bedrock from which all of the best work of Already Gone is based. However not to be outdone, bassist Tim Buxton adds a very melodious backing, while drummer Vikki Brown gives an extremely impressive performance, with smart fills and bass drum blasts being her trademark.

When Already Gone put their foot to the floor and rock out, One Good Reason becomes a more than convincing blast of Rock and Metal that will appeal to young and old alike. However it is the sheer amount of mid-paced and slow songs this album contains that stops it from really hitting the heights often hinted at. None of them are bad, in fact the likes of "Wash Away The Tears" is a smart diversion from the classy riff and rock of the early Kiss sounding "Turn Away" (think "Room Service"). However as the album rolls on, so it becomes harder and harder to differentiate between one slower number and the next. Yes different colours are added with "Sweet Dream Baby" even going down the Country-Rock road. However the unchanging tempo from song to song invariably causes the attention to wander.

That said, this is a more than solid start for Already Gone, if they can concentrate on their strengths and vary things slightly more (or even reduce the amount of tracks - 13 on this album is just one or two too many), then they might just have enough about them to receive that ever elusive break.

Track Listing
1. Cry Baby
2. What Does It Take?
3. Stop, Drop, Rock and Roll
4. Make My Day
5. Wash Away The Tears
6. Sweet Dreams Baby
7. Turn Away
8. Let Me Be Your Slave
9. Sweet Lady Jane
10. In Your Arms
11. One Good Reason
12. Girls I Used to Know
13. So Long Gone

Added: April 7th 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Already Gone Official Website
Hits: 1947
Language: english

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