The Lonely H - Concrete Class [Album]

Control Group

July 12, 2009, 04:03 PM

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The Lonely H are the newest of a slew of bands bringing a “classic rock revival,” to the modern music scene. Their third album 'Concrete Class', released under the label The Control Group in 2009 sounds like a tribute to all of the bands before their time, causing it to triumph at points, and fail terribly at others. 'Concrete Class' has hints of every genre from Blues Rock, to Power Ballads, leading to the question, is there any originality here? Well… yes and no. While it does seem to take heavy influences at time, it still is nice to hear a band that doesn’t forget what came before them.

The first track, 'Right Down to Me' shows the band’s biggest flaw, what direction to go in. In one song it sounds like they’re trying for The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Band, and an 80's Glam Metal band stuffed in for good measure. It all comes out a little muddled up sounding. Next up, 'Cold Blues', is one of the best tracks on show because you see something of a real band coming out, even with some slight blues rock, or Van Halen influences. It’s similar to some of the material on Jet’s 'Get Born' album, but they do it better then Jet ever could. 'White Horse Tears' is something very close to Rick Danko’s vocals on 'Music From Big Pink'; that mixed with a little bit of Guess Who's drunken rawness. 'Going Out West' is a great song that easily could have appeared on James Gang’s 'Yer' Album. It again shows a real band coming out, using their influences correctly, and not just ripping them off.

Track five, “Singer” is an obvious sound alike to The Grateful Dead. From the vocals that emulate a younger Jerry Garcia, to the mandolin. It’s so good you might think you’re listening to "the Dead". Unfortunately it doesn’t have the awkward but beautiful harmonies that made The Grateful Dead’s folk rock period famous. Next up is 'Diggin’ a Hole' which leaves no impression on you, and is one of the weaker tracks on the album. Following, is the country folk track 'Take Care', including the line “Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair,” taken right from Scott McKenzie’s San Francisco, and it’s not even a subtle lyric rip-off, but it’s an alright song. It is what it is.

Nothing can prepare you though for what is next , the song 'Phoenix', a song that a horrid band like Poison would be disgraced to play. The vocals are a weird attempt at something reminiscent of a power ballad, or The Rolling Stone’s album 'Exile on Main St'. It’s a terrible song, and leaves an awful dent in this album. Luckily, the album regains some strength again with 'Other Side of the Water', a powerhouse of a song, something The Lonely H should have been doing the whole album. 'Girl From Jersey' is an example of what would result if you put the late 70s The Grateful Dead, and mixed it with The Eagles in a blender. Unfortunately, like most of the tracks here the lyrics aren’t the best, and also as I said above the late 70s Grateful Dead, and not the greatest of The Grateful Dead material.

Next is another song similar to 'Phoenix', 'The River'. No, not the Bruce Springsteen masterpiece. This band for some reason can’t do a stripped down, raw, acoustic song. The last song on this album is 'Strike a Chord', and when it’s finished you realize that the last six songs have all been mediocre at best.

In the end, most of this album is a second rate version of The Darkness, with love for The Band, and The Grateful Dead sprinkled in the mix, with a zest of The Eagles. I know this review sounded more like a flash review of a hundred different artists, but to tell you the truth I felt the same way. I didn’t think half the time I was listening to a real band, just a compilation of unknown songs from different musicians, or a well made sequel to the 'Masked Marauders' album released in 1969. Bands like the Felice Brothers, are clearly influenced by Bob Dylan, or The Band, but it’s what they do with those influences that counts. When it’s done right it doesn’t sound like a rip-off, but someone’s own personal creation with a thoughtful tip of the hat to bands of the past.

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