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April 2024

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January 2024

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Lionville: Lionville

AOR/Melodic Rock

4.5/5.0

Avenue of Allies Music
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by Craig Hartranft,  06.06.2011

Stefano Lionetti, founder and principal of the Lionville project, bares his influences with no apologies. Toto, Richard Marx, Survivor, Boulevard and Bad English inform Lionetti's ambitious and entertaining AOR melodic rock project. This self-titled project is a time warp into 80's melodic rock, a soundtrack for another teenage angst movie of the same decade.

Arising from Italy, Lionville is Lionetti on lead and back vocals, some guitar and some keyboards with Lars Safsund (Work of Art, Enbound) also sharing vocals, Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge of Forever, Eden's Curse) on keyboards, and Pierpaolo Monti (Shining Line) on drums. Numerous guests, known and unknown, were included in the project including fellow label mate Arabella Vantic (Alyson Avenue) for vocals, Bruce Gaitsch (Richard Marx, Chicago, Peter Cetera), Tommy Denander (Radioactive, Houston, Spin Gallery), and Eric Martensson (W.E.T., Eclipse).

Typical of 80's melodic rock, Lionville includes many up tempo rockers and emotional ballads with lyrics of motivation and inspiration, love and love lost. For brisk melodic rock look to the catchy Here by My Side, With You, or Power of My Dreams. Something a bit heavier comes on Thunder in Your Heart, a John Farnham cover from the obscure Eighties film RAD about BMX racing. Another homage or tribute to the classic AOR sound comes on the Richard Marx ballad The World Without Your Love. These are two of the finest songs on the entire album. Other ballads, of sorts, include Over and Over Again and Say Goodbye. Eighties AOR never lacked for duet, and Chosen Ones featuring Safsund and Vitanc with music by Tommy Denander is classic. Without doubt, this is the best track here.

With Lionville, Stefano Lionetti and company successfully recreate Eighties AOR melodic rock in expert and entertaining fashion. The past is present, and if AOR is your thing, don't miss this fine work.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

With Lionville, Stefano Lionetti and company successfully recreated Eighties AOR melodic rock in expert and entertaining fashion. The past is present, and if AOR is your thing, don't miss this fine work.

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Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]