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Love Crushed Velvet: S/T

Melodic Rock

3.5/5.0

Independent/Self-promotion
Website Facebook Twitter MySpace
by Craig Hartranft,  07.11.2011

Singer/songwriter A.L.X. comments, concerning his band Love Crushed Velvet, "We feel that our sound isn't easily placed into a convenient category." Being a veteran of the New York indie/alternative scene, he has the luxury of being both deliberate and evasive in making music. Throughout this self-titled LCV offers catchy melodic rock with pop accessibility. Wanderings through 80's rock, maybe some latent New Wave touches, and definitely some modern alt rock independence mark these tunes.

Letter, Goodbye Goldblatt, and Love Crushed Velvet sound like a mash up of U2 and Billy Idol washed through some Depeche Mode, with catchy melodies and a tight groove. Later Famous and Problem Child offer quirky neo-wave pop rock with equally provocative lyrics. LCV gets heavier on Puttin' On Weapon, with dense riffs and synths. With the possible exception of Famous, any of the first five songs are perfect for alt rock radio.

The rest of the songs turn to unexpected moderation, listing between lightness and melancholy. It's not that Burning Embers, Bright Summer, Willie B, or Heatwave are poor songs; they just don't have the charm and inspired innovation of the others (especially against Famous and Problem Child).

If anything, Love Crushed Velvet's debut is interesting, and singer A.L.X. is likely right: there's not necessarily a category for their sound, except the larger one of melodic rock. Love Crushed Velvet is worth exploring.

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

If anything, Love Crushed Velvet's debut is interesting, and singer A.L.X. is likely right: there's not necessarily a category for their sound, except the larger one of melodic rock. Love Crushed Velvet is worth exploring.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]