Electric Ducks: Change Your Mind

Three albums ago Electric Ducks were a French AC/DC tribute act but with their newest effort a conscious move to throw off those shackles it finds the band entering fresh territory. "Good Time In The City" opens proceedings by promising a commercial Americana/country slant that takes in Blackberry Smoke, Aynsley Lister and Train. With a huge chant along chorus and instantly memorable hooks we're undoubtedly off on the right foot and leaving those DC'isms far behind. "Something In Your Eyes" heads deeper down the commercial path, a howling guitar line suggesting that the easy melody and laid back vibe could have crossover appeal. In fact as you venture through Change Your Mind it's difficult to shake off the feeling that crossing over is exactly the calculated game being played. "Odd Hours" feels so premeditated that it's almost dayglo bright in its up-beatness and propensity to feel a little sickly sweet; the white man reggae stance that's nearly adopted proving a step too far… and then, as he does throughout, guitarist Gaudry starts electric duckwalking his way through an Angus Young inspired guitar solo, leaving you wondering why his talents are being swamped by an almost Kings Of Leon-lite smack of 'dangerous' chart rock. With "Drag A Confession" looking to pull at heartstrings but never really holding the authenticity to fully make you care, the most disappointing aspect of this record is just how quickly early promise is allowed to slip away in a torrent of commercial compromise.

Featuring Chrystal Leigh, "The Plan" again digs its feet into country styles and yet there's a whiff of Mutt Lange era Bryan Adams, but without the huge choruses that made his efforts such a guilty pleasure, while "Safe Place" starts out as a voice and piano ballad before having life breathed into it by yet more excellent guitars and a rock solid beat. Aspects which are finally let free on "Who Belongs To My World", which ultimately plays to this band's strengths and reveals them loving every second of combining Back In Black era AC/DC with the trademark sound of Def Leppard as they offered us Hysteria. I know that the object here was to move away from this tried, tested and tribute learned tirade, but boy do Electric Ducks feel much more comfortable in these surrounds.

A trio of 'radio cut' bonus tracks round the album out but in all honesty the only thought you're left with is why did Electric Ducks try to Change Your Mind in the first place? After all they appear to have been much more exciting the way they were...

Track Listing
1. Good time in the city
2. Something in your eyes
3. Odd hours
4. Drag a confession
5. The plan
6. Safe place
7. Charming man
8. The fall
9. Who belongs to my world
10. Anger
Bonus tracks
11. Something in your eyes (Radio edit)
12. Odd hours (Radio edit)
13. Safe place (Radio edit)

Added: January 28th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Electric Ducks on Facebook
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Language: english

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