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Category 5: Off the Ivory Coast (EP)

AOR/Melodic Rock

3.0/5.0

Reeltime Records
www.myspace.com/cat5rocks
www.cat5rocks.com
Review: Craig Hartranft,  07.12.2010

Category 5 are familiar folk around the Detroit music scene, working as cover band rendering everything from Journey to Green Day. Category 5 expresses their own creativity with their first EP Off the Ivory Coast, a collection of five original numbers. Off the Ivory Coast is some consistent stuff, catchy melodic rock root firmly in the 1980's. The musicianship is enthusiastic and passionate throughout. I wish I had the same feeling about these five songs.

Home Again and I Wonder are fine numbers, but ultimately dull. Party If You Want To adds some saxophone and generally offers some 'party' liveliness, yet it still didn't move me. I'm guessing it's more animated when played live. The strong numbers are Lost in Legacy, a pure AOR piece with strong vocals and some sizzling fret work, and the totally unexpected 7 Daze Warning, a real melodic hard rock number that bludgeons the rest of the songs with its power. If Category 5 keeps this up, they will be on to something good. Otherwise, Category 5's Off the Ivory Coast is solid, but merely average, melodic rock effort from a very promising band.

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Category 5's Off the Ivory Coast is solid, but merely average, melodic rock effort from a very promising band.

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