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Website [Release date 14.02.25]
Hailing from the renowned Asbury Park, New Jersey, Colossal Street Jam are back after a long road fraught with illness and a former management team letting them down. Colossal Street Jam consists of vocalist Gene Potts, guitarist/vocalist Sal Marra, bass player Tony Flora, drummer Dave Halpern and Eric Safka on Hammond B3/piano.
Over the years my musical taste has changed, whilst I’m more into metal and grunge, 70s rock has been something I gravitated towards the past couple of years. I love the raw vocal passion meeting with slick riffs and groovy bass lines so I was eager to get stuck into this album.
‘No Way to Live’ giving psychedelic 70s grooves. I loved the synth accompaniment. ‘Seconds’ is the quintessential 70s Rock sound I know and love.
‘Hey’ is heavy, gritty and full of sexy 70s grooves. If you’ve ever seen the film Road House with Patrick Swayze and remember the band that play in the bar, that is exactly the type of atmosphere that was created in my head whilst listening to this track.
‘Morning light’ is a musical interlude that took me on a trajectory to psychedelic paradise. It was slow in pace but mighty on atmosphere.
‘Look It Here; is very reminiscent sound wise to the classic song ‘Mustang Sally’, which is a song I absolutely love! It was so incredibly catchy and instantly made me want to groove. The vocals were cranked to 1000, with the accompanying vocals complimenting the track tremendously.
‘Before I Sleep Again’ has a softer rock approach but still packing a punch. It had a blues rock feel to it which was a good pace changer. Whilst ‘My Fight Alone’ ebbs and flows, something I didn’t expect, but it really showcases the talents vocally and musically. Colossal Street Jam are able to create an album with many different tones in sound that evoke many different feelings and it is something special.
‘Dancing In Place’ a 70s Country rock flair fills the air with this track! ‘Nothing Like It’, the penultimate track to the album, has the lyrics, “there’s nothing like rock and roll” us rock fans know this couldn’t be more true. The pace was rip roaring and so was the guitar solo. Fabulous!
‘Songbird (Reprise)’ closes the album with a soft, raw and heartfelt vocal. The string accompaniment was absolutely stunning.
The slick licks and meticulous Melodies make for a truly exceptional musical experience filled with nostalgic 70s rock grooves. Whilst the vocal is raw, gravelly and passionate, and lyrics laced with themes of love, rebellion and life experiences. The musical talents were exquisite with the guitar having just the right amount of distortion when needed to create the classic sound of the 70s, this added with the steady drum beat and driving bass line was simply spectacular.
I genuinely feel the sound of the 70s is incredibly distinct, and continues to influence the bands of today’s generation. This album I feel truly captures the essence and I was very pleasantly surprised. ****
Review by Lucy Parr
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WHEN RIVERS MEET Addicted To Love (indie)
ISABELLA STORM Satan’s Valentine (indie)
KEYSTONE Slow Down Honey (indie)
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE Sleep Tonight (Metropolis Records)
SAWMOON Madness (indie)
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09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
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