Palace – Rock and Roll Radio
Album review by; – The Dark Cookie
Michael Palace is an obviously talented individual hailing from Sweden, I mean with only a little help from a few friends he has given the world this his 3rd Album for Frontiers Music SRL, the fantastic label home to so many interesting rock bands, mainly of the more melodic end of the rock spectrum, yes PALACE have some great label mates.
But we are not here to talk about them, let’s chew the fat about PALACE. This is an album drenched in all things 80s, both good and bad. Are there catchy tunes, yes. Way Up Here is a prime example of that. Can the guy play, well everything, no doubt and he definitely has that 80s sounding soaring solo off pat. Vocals? Good and crystal clear, if a little generic, not in the Nathan James or Steve Overland bracket, more on this in a moment.
The album is listenable, and I can see it doing well playing in the background at a sun-soaked 80s pool party, but that is about it.
I mentioned there was good and bad. And whilst nothing is really bad, there are too many of the worst excesses of the 80s we, who have a passion for the Rock music from that era and for the bands who pay homage to it so well. By which I mean the album is over produced. It’s too shiny and if it was any slicker protesters would be accusing it of polluting the sea. And every cliché you can think of has been employed. Listen to Hot Steel as an example of this. The lyrics are cringe-worthy, and even that on point guitar solo will not save it.
When it is good it is good. Rock and Roll Radio is catchy and kitchy cool. Way Up Here is a really decent upbeat song. And I have a soft spot for Origins Of Love, it’s upbeat and has great solo and the vocals are a step up, you get the impression he had fun with this track. She’s So Original is schmaltzy saccharine 80s excess, but works.
But Strictly By The Rules sounds like something off of a dodgy 80s Rom Com soundtrack, sugary enough to send a diabetic to the hospital! And When It’s Over is trying too hard to be a pop song, it just doesn’t fit.
The rest are OK, no more no less.
I actually found this review hard to write, because, for me the album sits bang in the middle, it isn’t stellar and it isn’t a train wreck either, it’s just mediocre. Less would definitely have been more, lose a couple of the songs listed, give it a more modern take on the production, perhaps a slightly harder edge, less pop!
My middling score reflects my views. If I could give a half mark it would have been squarely in the middle.
3 out of 5
Musicians;
Michael Palace – Everything
Oscar Bromvall - Lead Guitar on “Hot Steel”
Jordan Cox – Backing Vocal on “Castaway”
Social Media Links;
Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/palacesweden/?ref=page_internal
You Tube; https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mntglvR71PA
Spotify; https://open.spotify.com/album/001uU9oIlGL5TdOBKPc7F8?autoplay=true
Track listing;
1.Rock And Roll Radio
2.Castaway
3.Way Up Here
4.Cold Ones
5.Elenora
6.Hot Steel
7.My Gray Cloud
8.Origin Of Love
9.She’s So Original
10.Strictly By The Rules
11.When It’s Over
12.Fight