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"12 Stones" 12 Stones |
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If this is a sign of things to come where Rock music is finally ready to turn the corner and we can indeed be appreciative of outstretched instrumentalism and depth of character, 12 Stones will be right there in the front lighting the way. Much has been made of their youth
and easy road to early success but the fact remains, good songs are good
songs, There've been bands like them in
recent years; those that defied the mainstream causality and usual Grunge-Rock
and Once the steam clears from your
nostrils and the rant from your rave, musicality still remains a vital
function to fall back on. Not every song is a masterwork on this self-titled
debut by any stretch. They fall into a well of blandness "Back Up" and "Soul Fire" are emotionally spectral runs bore of resentment and contentment respectively; "In My Head's" a catchy chord cruncher and future radio hit, while "Running Out Of Pain" could easily do the same, mixing their previously established choral potency with lyrical perseverance. Collectively 12 Stones are a tight unit, keeping things simple and forging forward on the strength of an anthemic guitar groove and melody-heralding fretwork. Paul McCoy's mild tempered vocals are a relief from the cumbersome behind the mic tenacity, yet the best step forward here is that each of the songs has their own leg to stand on, and that alone makes this an album built to last rather than the industry standard quick strike and bail approach. Released by Wind Up Records: http://www.winduprecords.com/ Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] P.O. Box 20252
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