Album review: DAN MIRALDI – Alphabet City 2 AM

Facebook [Release date 07.09.18]

Get Ready To ROCK! has been around sixteen years now, almost as long as I have been reviewing, and over that time I am always surprised and delighted at the many musical discoveries I have made along the way. The latest to impress is this album from Dan Miraldi, a musical cocktail of rock n roll beats, power pop melodies and some damn fine tunes.

The album has been in the making since 2015 and Dan Miraldi gives a good summary of what the album is about – “Alphabet City 2 AM is different from my other albums in that the songs all come from one specific time and place. It’s a record about modern dating in New York City. It was written within the span of a year, between the fall of 2015 and 2016. It just took me a while to find the time to finally finish recording it.”

Songs like opener ‘Woke Up Naked’ and ‘She Knows’ have blissful choruses, big melodic hooks and in the case of ‘She Knows’, recall Butch Walker. Dan Miraldi has a smooth vocal that suits ‘Chelsea Girl’, with its harmony vocals recalling Jellyfish, ELO – those bands who just ooze class when it comes to creating memorable pop rock songs.

Bit of an 80′s vibe on the synth drums on ‘Living Out Loud’, again a gentle tune, full of melody and the lyrical content keeps within the album’s theme of modern dating. Any of the songs on here would be ideal on a power pop/pop rock playlist.

‘Every Day Of The Week’ would be a hit in an alternate universe where mainstream radio played songs that weren’t plagued by auto tune. Lots of piano, a big chorus and nice bit of rock ‘n’ roll twang on the guitar, what’s not to like?

Dan Miraldi’s ’Alphabet City 2AM’ is one to savour, a perfect mix of upbeat pop rock and mellower, reflective songs. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)