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Two out of three albums reviewed arrived in plain, brown packaging.  Steve reviews Prototype-A, Dolores O’Riordan and Collective Soul—

Prototype A: The Evolving Paradigm

I wanted to like Prototype A; I really did.  Firstly, they’re Montreal boys, and I think that this town puts out some really stellar talent.  Second, Prototype A have fused together Electronica and 80s Power Rock into a new take on Electro Rock. And, that makes them rather daring pioneers.

The thing about pioneers, though, is their track record is a tad spotty.  Meriweather Lewis and Samuel de Champlain were pioneers.  So were the members of the Donner Party.  So, while Prototype A, as their name implies are one of the first to dive into Electronic Rock, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the best at it.

The sound is great, but there’s too much emphasis on Power Chords and Danick Quintal’s Daughtry-esque power crooning sounds a little one-note after a while.  While I normally judge an album on the music alone, the fact is this quintet is styling up just like every other Emo Rock boy-band out there: think My Chemical Romance and Simple Plan meet the Jonas Brothers.

Instead of focusing on substance, Prototype A have focused on style.  There is no doubt that they do what they do quite well; the problem is this album isn’t so much about putting that skill to work as it is about showing it off.  If they tried to do something a little more challenging with their Electro Rock sound, if the lyrics were a little more substantial and the music a little more complex, they might really be on to something.

All in all, I am sadly unimpressed.

Prototype A: The Evolving Paradigm

Independent

Steve’s Rating: 5/10

Collective Soul: “Rabbit” Album

I have to admit that I lost interest in Collective Soul after 1993’s ‘Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid’.  Listening to their eighth studio album in 16 years, I have to say that I am as unimpressed now as I was then.

They had one good song, “Shine”, off of their aforementioned 1993 debut.  The rest of the album was just pure poseur post-80s rock, automatically irrelevant given they emerged during the climax of the Grunge Era.

Their latest album sounds pretty much like their first album, and I am wholly underwhelmed.  Of all the songs on the album, I’m honestly astounded that their lead singles have been the douchey “Staring Down” and terribly contrived “Welcome All Again”.  Both songs are terrific examples of everything that’s wrong with this band.  I honestly don’t understand how Collective Soul have managed to keep doing this for so long.  Please, give this one and the rest of their discography a pass.

Collective Soul: “Rabbit” Album

Road Runner

Steve’s Rating: 5/10

I know, I was wondering the same thing: was there anything I listened to this week that I liked?  The good news is that yes there was; and, I’ve saved the best for last.

Dolores O’Riordan: No Baggage

The Cranberries were one of the pivotal bands of the 1990s and early part of the new decade.  Their success was due in no small part to the unique and powerful voice of their lead singer, Dolores O’Riordan.  When the Cranberries broke up our only consolation was the announced solo album from O’Riordan, the fantastic 2007 release, ‘Are You Listening’.

The only weakness with ‘Are You Listening’ was that it sounded exactly like all the previous music released by The Cranberries.  I’m glad to report that O’Riordan has expanded her musical style on ‘No Baggage’, her latest offering.

While her crooning voice and lyrical styling has remained unchanged, the music and instrumentation that accompany her dulcet vocals have evolved.  There are still some tracks that have a distinctively “Cranberries” feel, such as “Be Careful” or “Skeleton”, but there are also tracks, like the opener “Switch Off The Moment” and lead single, “The Journey”.

This is a triumphant new album; one that shows the kind of maturity and evolution of self and sound that can only come after a twenty-year career in music.

Dolores O’Riordan: No Baggage

Zoe Records

Steve’s Rating 10/10