A classy record altogether and very recommended
After recording a Country/Rock crossover album ('From Both Sides' – which I dug, especially the more Rocky tunes), Jac Dalton returns with 'Icarus'. The Aussie based American singer, supported by a team of outstanding musicians (Graham Greene, the leading guitarist from down-under to mention just one) resigns from his Country-ish sound in favour of expanding the other musical territories. What he's heading towards now is Melodic Hard Rock/AOR, and 'Icarus' is the result of this musical expansion.AlA
One of the best things about this album is the perfect balance between musical diversity and cohesion. On 'Icarus', there are fast-paced songs with pumping bass lines and feisty guitar riffs, full of Rock clichés lyric-wise ('Locked, Cocked And Ready To Rock', 'Suck Bang Blow') as well as more mellow, radio-friendly and keyboard-driven tunes which could be mistaken easily for Bon Jovi – especially around 'Have A Nice Day' era, Melodica or the Revolve-era Danger Danger ('Good To Go', 'For Your Love'). A beautiful wailing guitar tone in the eponymous track 'Icarus', with its Blues/Southern Rock flavor, is a deliberate throwback to Dalton's past as well as a tribute to his Southern heritage, making this song an excellent one and one of the album's highlights alongside 'Armed And Dangerous' (with its outstanding guitar shredding) and the final track 'State Of Rock' (a guilty pleasure for each and every 1980s AOR fan). The weaker moments...? Perhaps, the cover version of AC/DC's 'Back In Black' could be one – Dalton's apparent tradition of including one cover on each release continues, but this time, with slightly worse results than before (his stellar take on Jovi's 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' still remains one of the best moments of his first record without doubt).
However, the truth is that pointing out to any severe flaws of this record is a difficult task to complete. While it might not have broken any new ground music-wise, the album remains a solid collection of diverse AOR/Melodic Rock tunes that are very well-crafted and performed. It portrays Dalton as he naturally progresses from Country-ish Rock sound of his debut album towards Melodic Rock; a progression that is very fruitful in result. Plus, the icing on the cake is Jac Dalton's raw, raspy style of singing that is in vein of David Coverdale, Paul Shortino or David Reece. A classy record altogether and very recommended.
Alexandra Mrozowska
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