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Vanity Music Group / Leap Dog Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 17.12.2014
Like most singer-songwriters, John Taglieri reaches for inspiration from life. In the case of his twelfth recording, the six song EP Days Like These, the initial inspiration came from the news that he and his wife were having their first child. I'm thinking he'll be finding more inspiration as that child grows.
Days Like These, as a whole, basic melodic rock of the AOR variety. The music is generally upbeat with good melodies, cogent lyrics, and Taglieri's smooth, sometimes soulful voice leading the way. He gets help from some longtime friends Kenny Aronoff and Keith Lubrant (Real Housewives of Miami, Beavis and Butthead, et al) and musical peers Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Elton John, Bob Seger, etc) and Rich Redmond (Jason Aldean, Ludacris, Kelly Clarkson, etc), among many others. This collaboration of musical minds does one simple thing for Taglieri's musical ideas: it makes him sound really good.
After this, Days Like These, Here For The Taking, Beautiful Tonight, and the last song Toasting The Man In The Moon are the rockers on the album. Beautiful Tonight has a large mixture of elements including acoustic guitar, harmonious background vocals, friendly if not quirky keyboards, and a solid vocal arrangements. In between these songs, Taglieri gives us some lighter fare, general ballads, that draw down the sound. Thin Air has some nice piano and a fine smooth guitar solo, but still seems really, really slow. Finish Line is quiet and slow moving as well, measured by vocals matched with acoustic guitar, piano, and some slight symphonic notes. You can definitely attach some personal meaning to the songs, yet some might feel the drag the album down. Otherwise, Days Like These is still a fine recording from Taglieri, showing an artist definitely at rest with his art and it's expression. Check out the tune below, and discover for yourself.
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Days Like These is a fine measure of AOR melodic rock from Taglieri, showing an artist definitely at rest with his art and it's expression.
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