HUNGRY HEART - review added 21st June 2010
Album Review: One Ticket To Paradise (2010)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and Michael Jackson covers
"One Ticket To Paradise" is the follow to Italian band Hungry Heart's self titled 2008 debut album. The line-up may now be different - Josh Zighetti on vocals and Mario Percudani on guitars are still there, Steve Lozzi on bass and Paolo Botteschi on drums are new - but the sound treads a reasonably familiar path.
This is an upbeat, cool album that flits merrily between hard 1980s rock, country, pop and acoustic softness. The style is approachable, accessible, and very easy on the ears. Hungry Heart really have got friendly rock nailed.
The musicianship, featuring guests including Nicolò Fragile (Gotthard) and Alessandro Del Vecchio (Eden’s Curse, Edge Of Forever), is excellent and a new benchmark for the band. The sound quality of the album - mastered by Michael Voss (Mad Max) - is arguably a step above the last release too. My reservations about Josh's voice remain from the debut, although he is improved here.
The songs are both better and worse than the debut. As a whole, this is a more consistent album with a well balanced list of songs, all of which offer a hook or smile-making-moment. What there isn't on "One Ticket To Paradise" is a massive track in the vein of 'Gina'. 'Stand Up' gets close, as does the splendidly chorused ballad 'A Million Miles Away', and the hard rocking 'Let's Keep On Tryin''. The splendid cover of Michael Jackson's 'Man In The Mirror' features some great guitar work.
This is a really likeable upbeat album. You'll struggle to find anything more suitable for a hot summer evening on the Italian Riviera. "One Ticket To Paradise" isn't an all-time classic, but it outdoes the debut with style. Good stuff.
Check out... That Michael Jackson cover.
Track List:
01. Stand Up
02. One Ticket To Paradise
03. Let Somebody Love You
04. Boulevard Of Love
05. A Million Miles Away
06. Angela
07. Love Is The Right Way
08. Let's Keep On Tryin'
09. Just A Little Closer
10. Get Lost
11. Man In The Mirror
12. You Won't Be Alone
Label: Tanzan Music
Artist's website(s): Hungry Heart | MySpace | Facebook
