Janey Summer - Along the Way Review - sputnikmusic Page 1 of 2

Find a Band
Search

login new releases top albums forums news features

home metal alt/ indie punk rock hip-hop pop other

Janey Summer Along the Way

Full Review User Ratings (1)

robertmichaelsutton Tracklist:
4 (3 Reviews)
1.
2.
Between Two Worlds
Flame
excellent 2008-11-15 | 1 comments | 107 views
3. Seeing You
4. Lie Along the Way
5, Kept Me Waiting
6, Stranded
Summary: Reminiscent of Concrete Blonde, Evanescence, and 7, You Rock (My Chemistry)
Heart, U.K. singer/songwriter Janey Summer balances Goth- 8, Sometimes
tinged alternative with straightforward yet compelling rockers
Release Date: 01/01/2008
Almost immediately Concrete Blonde vocalist Johnette Napolitano is
recalled in the opening cut, "Between Two Worlds." Janey Summer's
dig it
dark, husky voice will provide those nostalgic for late '80s-early '90s
modern-rock radio a much-needed fix. It helps, too, that the guitars
and keyboards are colored with a Gothic tinge. To the younger crowd, it You
may seem like Summer is summoning the shadow-laden Evanescence; Say:
however, to Gen-X alt veterans, the point of comparison will certainly
be Concrete Blonde, a group that I don't believe found a sizeable
audience in Summer's U.K. homeland. The lyrics on "Between Two
4 Rate It
excellent Explain My Rating
Worlds" will appeal to the Goth set as well as it refers to spiritual
struggle between the strength of faith ("And one of me knows eternal
life") and doubt arising from suffering ("The pain and the heartache that Recommended by Reviewer:
comes/From a look into the eyes of hell"). But unlike many artists
exploring the forbidden corners of our daily existence, Summer isn't Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting
Evanescence - Fallen
wallowing in despair; neither the words nor the music plunge into Heart - Heart
suffocating existential waters. Rather, the tone is questioning, not The Cult - Sonic Temple
hopeless.

As soon as the doomy unrequited love of "Flame" follows it, you begin
to think that this might be a Gothic rock record, albeit one with AOR guitars. "Flame" is slower but it's still mysterious and
somewhat bleak like a crestfallen Heart. Along with "Between Two Worlds," it creates a two-fisted knockout punch on the CD.
However, Summer switches gears by the third song, "Seeing You." Introduced by melodically jangling guitars that eventually
open their way to rock-solid electric riffs, "Seeing You" casts off the enigmatic shades of the first two tunes but remains
hook-laden and memorable, providing diversity to the mix. "Kept Me Waiting" broadens Summer's stylistic turns even
further, employing some deliciously bluesy licks.

"You Rock (My Chemistry)" sports some killer glammy guitars while "Sometimes" opens with a freaky carnival-like
atmosphere that wouldn't be out of place in a Tim Burton flick then kicks into heavenly Evanescence overdrive.

Email this Review to a Friend

Comments: Add a Comment

innerdark
not bad, but in need of more detail and the last paragraph's just left... hanging. A weak conclusion
is better than no conclusion at all

Comments: 743 Digging: Protest the Hero - Fortress

11.15.08

Add a Comment:

You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=32717 26/01/2009
Janey Summer - Along the Way Review - sputnikmusic Page 2 of 2

FAQ / site forum / staff / contact us

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Site Copyright 2005-2008 Sputnikmusic.com All Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=32717 26/01/2009