Album review: M.I.C. – 5th Avenue
Self release via Two Side Moon [Release date January 2013]
M.I.C. is the brainchild of Canadian vocalist, guitarist and song-writer Yvon Serre, who over the last 8 years has carved out an AOR niche in China and Japan.
During that period the band underwent several line-up changes, but the music has remained steadfast to the kind of riff driven, harmony laden Classic rock. It’s music that will always find a market somewhere, if not back home in their native Canada or North America.
In embracing the global potential of their derivative rock – think Lizzy and AC/DC licks, Tubes and Cheap Trick style harmonies – M.I.C. have successfully tried to be all things to all people, both demographically and historically. The end result is ten mid -tempo tracks that at times veer too close to elevator music.
The melodic songs with booming hooks offer a wide appeal, though Yvon’s nasal vocal style restricts the arrangements to a familiar verse, chorus formula with strangely subdued guitar parts.
‘5th Avenue’ never really catches fire because of a circumspect production in which everything is mixed back. It’s as if the band is hedging its best. The result is a surfeit of mid-tempo songs that make the album sound claustrophobic, and no amount of whoops in the studio can generate any real excitement.
Listen for example to the guitar work on ‘What You Mean To Me’ on which the uplifting chorus is scuppered by some cotton wool sounding guitars, when the song demands an up in the mix solo.
The best moments come on the unison guitar sweep and strong hook of ‘Miracle Of Life’ and the riff driven pop-rock of ‘Sweet Christeen’. There are also some obvious triggers on the album like the catchy hook of ‘Serial Killers’ and the good time Quo style ‘Rockin’ Rollin’ It’, but most of the material is simply too generic with a familiar feel of recycled licks and telegraphed hooks.
Still, when you have made major inroads into the developing global rock market you can sense the appeal. *** (3/5)
Review by Pete Feenstra
http://www.yvonserre.com/mic/
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