HESS: "Living In Yesterday"

Rating: RRR
Label: Frontiers 2012
Review by Kimmo Toivonen

Ex-Harem Scarem singer Harry Hess surely isn't "Living In Yesterday". His latest album is a contemporary sounding melodic rock disc, sounding very much like something that even the major labels could release. Many of these songs could easily find their place on the latest Bon Jovi, Lifehouse or Daughtry albums. There's even a song ("I Don't Wanna Want You") that would most probably be a hit for someone like Kelly Clarkson or Pink. Maybe it will be someday, who knows.

The fact that this album sounds like a major label release is its' downfall too. The weaker tracks are the kind of nice, but bland mainstream radio rock that major label excecutives seem to love. You know, the kind of stuff that the next rocker-type of an American Idol/The Voice winner could quickly record to fill an album.

My picks from the album are the catchy pop/rock of the title track, the power ballads "It's Over" and "I Live For You" and the aforementioned "I Don't Wanna Want You". They're not really "Song Of The Year" candidates, but likeable, solid melodic tracks. The rest of the songs aren't that far behind, but somehow they don't leave any lasting impressions. An okay album, but after the excellent First Signal project, I can't help but feel just a bit disappointed.
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