Description:
II, the second album from the Calling, won't win over the band's critics, but few can doubt that this Los Angeles duo have a skill for the radio-friendly rock number. Like their shaggy FM band peers Nickelback and god-fearing US rockers Creed, the Calling are basically a sanitised version of weathered Seattle grunge survivors Pearl Jam and their ilk: it's there in frontman Alex Band's voice--a glossy approximation of Eddie Vedder's gruff soulfulness--and also in guitarist Aaron Kamin's gently rousing melodies, a sugar-coated take on 90s hard-rock anthemicism. For those charmed by the Calling's breakthrough single, "Wherever
II, the second album from the Calling, won't win over the band's critics, but few can doubt that this Los Angeles duo have a skill for the radio-friendly rock number. Like their shaggy FM band peers Nickelback and god-fearing US rockers Creed, the Calling are basically a sanitised version of weathered Seattle grunge survivors Pearl Jam and their ilk: it's there in frontman Alex Band's voice--a glossy approximation of Eddie Vedder's gruff soulfulness--and also in guitarist Aaron Kamin's gently rousing melodies, a sugar-coated take on 90s hard-rock anthemicism. For those charmed by the Calling's breakthrough single, "Wherever You Will Go", there's plenty here that pushes similar buttons: the bright "Chasing the Sun", for instance--a slick love song reminiscent of U2 that sees Band unleash his falsetto as the rhythm section fanfare wildly into each mile-wide chorus. There is darkness within, in the shape of "Somebody Out There"--a fraught, cello-laden acoustic number about domestic abuse. But this is about as complicated as the Calling get, and that's basically the secret of their appeal: they're the perfect band for the casual rock fan, but if you prefer a bit of edge to your music, you'll probably find II a little facile. --Louis Pattison
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Manufacturer: BMG
Release date: 31 May 2004
EAN: 0828766226225 UPC: 828766226225
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