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Orianthi: Rock Candy

Melodic/AOR/Pop Rock

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 10.10.2022 | Released: 14.10.2022

Orianthi Panagaris makes her return to the studio with a new solo project, Rock Candy. The talented artist, known for her work with Alice Cooper, Carrie Underwood, Carlos Santana, and more, recently released a live DVD, Live From Hollywood. She's joined on this solo effort by Emmy Award-winning composer, songwriter, producer Jacob Burton whose credits are also diverse and distinguished: Mariah Carey, Steven Tyler, Pop Evil and others. Also, a prolific multi-instrumentalist Mr Burton adds guitar, bass, keyboard, piano, and violin to the song mix.

Orianthi Panagaris

Fans will find her fifth album, Rock Candy, rather similar to her previous work, notably O. Once more Orianthi's song writing blurs lines between hard rock, guitar rock, AOR, and more contemporary popular music. She also very good at creating compact and potent classic three minute rock songs. However, what distinguishes her musical creations, besides skillful song arrangements, is simply her vocal arrangements and talented and constantly creative guitar lines. Whether she was influenced or not by the artist, Orianthi sometimes reminds me of Prince and combination of eclectic music and subtle guitar work. I find Orianthi to be more ambitious in the latter case.

While appreciating her significant song writing skills, I found myself drawn to the songs that were a hybrid of pop and rock groove with a bit more heaviness. These highlights would include Getting To Me, Light It Up, or Red Light, a song with heaviness and gusto. More subtle and AORish are Where Did Your Heart Go and Fire Together. A ballad comes with Living Is Like Dying Without You where Orianthi's vocal arrangements to center stage. The recording is bookended with two instrumental pieces Illuminate, Parts I & II where Orianthi's guitar skills take precedent. The second part, however, is notable for the violin outro provided by Jacob Burton.

All in all, Orianthi's Rock Candy is exactly that, a solid, creative, and entertaining of her guitar-driven, pop grooving, melodic hard rock. All made even more delectable by her fine vocal arrangements. Easily recommended.

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Orianthi's Rock Candy is exactly that, a solid, creative, and entertaining of her guitar-driven, pop grooving, melodic hard rock. All made even more delectable by her fine vocal arrangements. Easily recommended.

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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 ]

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