LOGAN - review added 14th September 2010
Album Review: The Great Unknown (2010)
For fans of: Heavy Post-Grunge... and not sounding like the Proclaimers
Logan - Kenny Collins on vocals, Iain Stratton on drums, Steve Reilly bass, and Al Reilly and Mick Coll on guitar - hail from Glasgow in Scotland. They formed in 2003, and were soon gigging non stop in bars and clubs before moving on to share the stage with bands like Bon Jovi, Alter Bridge and Thunder.
The Great Unknown is the band's 4th album and follows two self-produced efforts and their 2008 LP "Cruel Little World". TGU boasts Keith Olsen (Fleetwood Mac, Whitesnake, Scorpions) as producer. He's a man who isn't going to work with a band unless they offer him a staggering amount of money...and/or they show genuine brilliance in their work. There is certainly some of the latter involved here.
Logan sound like the next logical step in the Pearl Jam / Creed progression. They take the sound of both, add in a good dose of Southern U.S. blues, then make the result considerably heavier. Don't get me wrong, this isn't 'metal', but there is a definite bass-happy wall of noise to the record. Kenny Collins has that Scott Stapp / Eddie Vedder vibe going on in abundance, but he does add his own nuances in as well. I wouldn't call his voice unique, but it really is bloody good.
Same goes for the songs. This is a difficult album to score as, although it is brilliant - beautifully written and sublimely performed - it's not massively original. There's no doubt that Logan's take on the 'post-grunge' sound is just as good as anybody else's, but they are perhaps treading on other people's toes rather than creating new paths through the musical landscape.
Is there still a place in the marketplace for band's making this sound? Yeah, I don't see why not. Logan do what they do with absolute aplomb. There are thousands if not millions of people out there who will lap this up. so good luck to 'em. They deserve all the acclaim they get for this slice of musical excellence.
Check out... All of it.
Track List:
01. The Great Unknown
02. Rock’n’Roll Way
03. When I Get Down
04. Save Me
05. Jump In Again
06. Hallowed Ground
07. Brother
08. Lost & Found
09. Spin the Wheel
10. Born to Run
11. Hurricane
12. Hold My Hand
Artist's website(s): Logan | MySpace | Facebook
