| CD REVIEW (This review was also published at www.701.com) |
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| BURN IT BLACK - INJECTED |
| I had initially missed the connection with this band to the More Fast and Furious soundtrack CD, although the feeling of familiarity nagged at me until I got it. Their single, �Faithless�, is included on it, which track I seem to have overlooked in my review of that CD, probably because I thought its commercial value was patently obvious, hence the feeling of familiarity. Burn It Black contains an introductory video clip of that same track, as well as a link to their website (www.injected.net) and record company, Island Records, which also represents Green Wheel, another band included on the more Fast and Furious soundtrack, and Elvis Costello. Another good marketing ploy they used in their earlier days was to give away free demo copies of their music at local gigs. The band, comprised of Steve Slovisky on bass, Chris Wojtal on drums, Jade Lemons on guitar and Danny Grady on lead vocals and guitars, hails from a small town near Atlanta, Georgia, where they all grew up together. Although they appear to be only in their 20s, they have been playing for almost a decade and therefore come prepared with a solid background of teamwork for this d�but recording. Butch Walker contributes keys, percussion and background vocals, as well as being the producer of this impressive collection of rock music (heavy metal, thrash, straight-ahead rock�n�roll � it�s all here). Rich Costey (Rage Against the Machine, Fiona Apple) handled the final mixing. In my opinion, they probably could have made three or four CDs out of it, using a few tracks each from this one and then adding either funkier-edged tracks or softer space-rock ballads like �Dawn� to add some versatility to each collection. As it is, the individual tracks all stand on their own merit, with the only one I didn�t care for being �I-IV-V�; it just sounded too noisy and repetitive. My favourite tracks, especially, but not exclusively, for the lyrics are �Lights are Low� � a mockery of the vicious game that is rock�n�roll � �Used Up� � about a lost soul - and the first three tracks � �When She Comes�, �Burn It Black�, and �Bullet� (the politically-minded track about youth violence which awarded the CD a parental advisory for no apparent reason other than the sparely-used but perpetually banned �F� and �MF� words). What I like most about Burn It Black is the musical collage of influences from primary-generation metal rockers like Black Sabbath, Motor Head and Motley Crue with second-generation grunge bands like Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Papa Roach, while injecting a bit of Three Doors Down, Moist and Widemouth Mason (in vocal style, anyway). Regarding vengeful feelings and the modern trend among youth to �shoot first, ask questions later�, band spokesman Danny Grady encourages an alternative solution seemingly based on a quote popularized by Ivana Trump that �The best way to get back [at a man] is to become successful.� Sounds like you�re well on the way! |
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