W.E.T. - review added 23rd October 2009
Album Review: Wet (self-titled) (2009)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and a few top ballads
The, er, inspiringly named W.E.T. gets it's nomenclature from the guys who made the album. So, providing the 'W' we have guitarist Robert Säll's Work of Art, Erik Martensson (guitars, bass, keyboards) gives the 'E' for Eclipse and Jeff
Scott Soto (vocals) cuts in with a 'T' for Talisman.
As Jeff mentioned in his recent interview with Rock Realms, this album is really all about Robert and Erik. They wrote the songs and put the project together for Frontiers Records. Jeff only came in to lay some magic over the top. Adding the finishing touches are Miqael Persson (songwriting), Magnus Henriksson (songwriting and guitars) and Robban Back (drums)
The resulting sound is hard rocking and stunningly melodic. Jeff has described it as the album he would have released with Journey had he not been kicked out on his a*se. Some of the inflections in his vocals are very Steve Perry-ish, but then JSS has always sung like that so it's no great surprise. In reality the album doesn't sound like a pale imitation of anyone else. Whilst it certainly isn't unique - there are hints of Bon Jovi, Survivor, Giant...you name it - the result comfortably stands on its own two feet.
Opening track 'Invincible' starts in a subdued Journey-like fashion before bursting outwards with a bombastic riff/drum combo. It's a fine track with a likeable chorus and gets matters off to a lively start. 'One Love' is too predictable for it's own good. It's an okay song but, in this exulted company, it gets lost. 'Brothers In Arms' is much more like it. It's a slow-ish track - almost ballad-like but built on more hard rocking roots than that. Call it a man-love song. There are some great riff-licious moments and changes of direction as the song progresses and, to be honest, this one track has more character than many entire albums.
A big bassy intro leads into the sensational ballad, 'Come Down Like Rain'. I say sensational...the chorus is indescribably huge - one of the biggest, best choruses you'll ever hear - but the rest of the track is understated to the extent it almost doesn't exist. Still the result works and makes for one of the album's biggest highlights. 'Running From The Heartache' does the pleasant verse, gigantic chorus thing too. Again, the chorus will put tears in your eyes and a warm sensation in your soul. Be in no doubt, this really is the top end of AOR/melodic hard rock.
'I'll Be There' is fast paced and friendly. It's one of those tracks you'll like for ages, then suddenly realise it's one of your all-time favourites. I think we'll call it subtle brilliance. 'Damage Is Done' isn't quite so exciting...but all is relative. It's an above average track by normal measures and has a tasty chorus. Same goes for 'Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is'. It rocks hard and has adrenaline coursing through every chord change and lyrical progression.
It's back to the land of ballads with 'One Day At A Time', a slow, end-of-evening track. Once again the verses are subtle and the chorus is mahoosive. Great guitar solo just over half way as well. It's a total change of approach for 'Just Go'. It almost sounds like a different band to start with but soon gets back in the standard hard rocking groove. Cool track. 'My Everything' is okay if derivative. Final entry 'If I Fall' is a bubbly feel good Journey-like track that's a few notches below the album's best.
This self-titled W.E.T. album sounds phenomenal - huge production, massive performances - and is deserving of mighty bundles of praise. Thing is, that flawless sound dominates the experience and makes the album come across with more panache than it perhaps deserves to. Stupid as it may seem, Wet by W.E.T. is a little bit too perfect for it's own good and could have done with a sprinkling of character.
Still, I'm splitting hairs. Be in no doubt, this album has some of the year's finest songs and is, by any normal measure, superb.
Check out... The perfection of the sound and performances.
Track List:
01. Invincible
02. One Love
03. Brothers In Arms
04. Come Down Like Rain
05. Running From The Heartache
06. I'll Be There
07. Damage Is Done
08. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
09. One Day At A Time
10. Just Go
11. My Everything
12. If I Fall
Label: Frontiers Records
Artist's website(s): MySpace
