Didn't really have much interest in listening to this album but a friend asked me about it and so I thought I'd give it a chance and see if they were any better. This could have been a much more painful experience considering how the current country crop releases so much drivel. Once you get past the first track which isn't that good and has the vanilla factor that is ever present today in country music the album begins to pick up and back to back the group has two uptempo songs that are easily digestible and fun to boot. "Sunset Lovin'" and "Wanna Take You Home" both grabbed my ear instantly and reminded me of the great Shania Twain. Albeit not on her level of excellence don't be confused.The songs are both catchy with good vocals and excellent Nashville production as you'd expect. As to be expected with Gloriana and their contemporaries the pace slows to mid-tempo and they croon a pseudo ballad "(Kissed You) Good Night" which is terrible its kinda like a grilled cheese sandwich that doesn't have enough cheese to make it delicious but its still ok. The next song again is over produced and that steals the organic sound needed to drive a song of this ilk. I like this sort of tune a lot when they are stripped back and just have room to breath instead of being calculated with all sorts of stifling knob twisting by a producer who is more interested in polish than in energy.
When the tempo picks up again Gloriana become likable bubblegum country pop music again. I believe they should be more playful and goofy on album and much less serious. If they would get the spirit of Jack White or the Black Keys and the fun side of Sugarland mixed into their sound just a touch to rough up the edges this group would be amazing. The band fall into Lady Antebellum craptacular territory with the faceless "Can't Shake You" a song that just plain old sucks. It's too professional and stiff. There is nothing good about this over directed fake emotion and this sounds like they don't believe what they are singing. Sure it has quality in sound but the performance lacks energy and instead of being powerful it is forgettable goo.
The pro's really out do themselves with "Soldier Song" another song devoid of all things important in making great music. They are going through the motions with a very wooden performance of song nobody but the moron who wrote it likes. Probably a record execs kid because this song is so contrived and ridiculous that I'm insulted after having to listen to the piece of crap. The album isn't a good album lets get that straight there is so much lame material on here that buying the two or three good songs are the only ones anybody needs to purchase.
Buy track two, three and eleven and really leave the rest behind. These sort of generic acts that Nashville produces at will sound the same, sing the same drivel, are nothing more than cash in throwaway acts. Gloriana will not be around making current hit music in five years. Sure they might have a couple of minor hits and still be on TV but it won't be because they have talent it will be because some idiot with money will pay their way onto talk shows and has-been festivals. These sorts of acts always fizzle and Gloriana is just another in a long line. People with no initiative to search for better music this is your ship jump on board. Those who can invest a little time in searching out something much better definitely make the effort you'll be glad you passed on this one.
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