NEVERSIN - review added 2nd March 2011
Album Review: Neversin (self-titled) (2010)
For fans of: Soft Rock... and licking lollipops
Neversin (or NeversiN to write the name correctly) hail from Padova in northern Italy. The band - Pippo on vocals, Sgana and Skench on guitars, Hurt on bass, and Albertino on drums - released their debut "The Stranger" in 2006, and followed it with "Retrolution" in 2009. This self-titled released maybe their 3rd to date, but it's their first to be released through a label.
The Neversin sound is a mixture of soft rock in the vein of Toto and the lighter end of Europe, and pop rock of the type pedalled by The Manic Street Preachers (especially vocally). Pippo has a decent tone, but he lacks drive and passion in his singing. He always sounds like he's too relaxed and simply isn't giving his all. I'm sure that isn't the case, but that's certainly how it comes across. Some of the guitar playing is exceptional - listing to the soloing in 'The Tower' for proof - but a lot of the time it plods along with plenty of melody but no real character.
The band are clearly very competent, brilliant in places, but mostly underwhelming. It's a frustrating record because they are almost there. Invariably a few tenths of production, catchiness or sheer oomph are missing, and that's Neversin's downfall. The same goes for the songs. There are fleeting moments of excellence, and as a whole the album is likeable, but there is simply nothing to fall in love with.
In Summation:
Good, but nowhere near good enough. Neversin do nothing wrong, but don't do anything right enough.
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall (Not An Average Of The Above):
Check out... Some of the guitar solos.
Track List:
01. Jail
02. Fairyland
03. The Game We Call Life
04. The Stranger
05. Trust
06. October
07. Long For Love
08. The Tower (The Stranger Pt.1)
09. Southern Cross
10. Part Of The Crime
11. Naneborgs
12. Highway Star
Label: Emmeciesse
Artist's website(s): Neversin | MySpace | Facebook
