Album review: GENERATION RADIO
Frontiers [Release date 05.08.22]
Generation Radio may have a name that suggests AOR and melodic rock, however, another key ingrediant in their sound is country rock provided by Jay DeMarcus, formerly of Rascal Flatts. Rascal Flatts had numerous number one albums in their native US, as well as massive touring success.
The AOR/melodic rock side of Generation Radio comes from former Chicago vocalist Jason Scheff, along with current Journey drummer Deen Castronovo. This trio are joined by guitarists Chris Rodriguez and Tom Yankton, both of whom are highly regarded session players, to complete the band’s line-up.
Opening with the AOR beast that is ‘Why Are You Calling Me Now?’, a song that is awash with keys, vocal harmonies and a nice, tight guitar solo. Good music never really goes out of fashion as this song ably demonstrates.
The album maybe ballad heavy for some but when you have a song like ‘Angels’ (not the Robbie Williams one!), how can you not like a superb ballad that this is?
Vocals nicely placed in the mix, this recalls the glory days of the likes of Journey, Chicago and REO Speedwagon. Speaking of Journey their drummer Deen Castronovo takes the mic on ‘Lights Go Out In Paradise’. This is how you do modern day AOR/melodic rock, not like the Poundland versions we sadly get from most melodic rock bands nowadays.
Generation Radio show their country side, albeit of the radio/pop friendly variety, on ‘All Night To Get There’. ‘Time To Let Go’ and ‘Smoking’ kick the tempo up a few notches, with ‘Smoking’ a hark back to the 80′s songs beloved of the likes of Loverboy and .38 Special.
What an album. Not one filler, production is top notch and the album was recorded by a band, not a studio project. AOR with a country edge, easily one of the albums of a year by a country mile. ****1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)