TWO FIRES - review added 17th September 2010
Album Review: Burning Bright (2010)
For fans of: AOR... and Journey...again
Two Fires - Kevin Chalfant on lead vocals, Michael “Ralph” Gardner and Alby Odum on guitar, Timmy Higgins, Jim Widlowski and Shawn Fichter on drums and percussion, Chuck Giacinto and Bill Cuomo on keys, Randy Hatzer on bass, and Mike Higgins on backing vocals - is, as you can probably tell from the vast line-up, more of a project than a real band.
This isn't the first album they have released though. The self titled debut came out in 2000, with “Ignition” following in due course. Josh Ramos was on guitars back then, alongside Kenny Aronoff, Willie Weeks, Jim Peterik... and George Tutko on production.
This time round things are perhaps more low key on the star-player front, but there is still 'celebrity' input in the form of 'Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid', which was written Kevin, with Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie.
The result is a good solid AOR/hard rock album that has moments of genius in parallel with occasional moments of tedium. Kevin Chalfant is a really decent singer be in no doubt, but he is definitely from the Steve Perry school of microphone smooching. His oohs and aahs make the material on Burning Bright instantly familiar, but the fact he's not quite as good as some of the other singers in the genre is a shame. He's too understated and easy on the ear to be really great. If you could ever describe have a voice that's too nice as a problem, this is it.
The musicianship is similar. It's all very polite, well played and apt for the music, but it doesn't always excite. Don't get me wrong, there are flashes of absolute genius here, but they are not as frequent as I would have liked.
Song wise there is a lot to like, but mostly in a good rather than great way. 'Is It Any Wonder' is a Journey-baiting start. 'Lost In The Song' is again Journey through and through, but much better. I could imagine the actual band struggling to make it any better. The slower 'Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid', is really pleasant. 'Epic In The Night' is nice, though forgettable. 'Shattered Without You' is a fine ballad which really gives the album a lift.
The title track has some wonderful musicianship, but again slips from the mind as easily as it enters it. The same goes for 'Hold On To Your Dream'. The slow but vaguely groovy 'Still In Love' is a country mile ahead of the previous couple of entries. Much better! The urgent 'Answer To My Prayer' is pleasant enough. The sensual 'Relentless' is a few notches better, as is the final track; the ballad 'All For One'.
"Burning Bright" is a perfectly decent, if understated release. If you don't like Journey clones you really won't like it.
Check out... 'Shattered Without You'
Track List:
01. Is It Any Wonder
02. Lost In The Song
03. Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid
04. Epic In The Night
05. Shattered Without You
06. Burning Bright
07. Hold On To Your Dream
08. Still In Love
09. Answer To My Prayer
10. Relentless
11. All For One
Label: Frontiers Records
