Candy is typically the most common treat that people give out on Halloween, but fans of the independent rock band Station got a special treat early this month in the form of the band’s new album, Perspective. Release Oct. 8 through Station Music, LLC via AWAL, the 10-song record is certain to appeal to the band’s established audiences and to fans of the rock sounds of the 1980s alike. That is due to the musical arrangements that make up the record’s body. They will be examined shortly. The lyrical themes that accompany the record’s musical content will appeal to even more audiences. They will be discussed a little later. The record’s sequencing rounds out its most important elements and will also be examined later. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of Perspective. All things considered, they make this record a work that the band’s target audiences will agree is worth hearing at least once.
Neo-classic rock band Station’s latest album, Perspective, is a presentation that is certain to appeal to the band’s established audiences and those with an affinity for the 1980s. That is proven in large part to the album’s featured musical arrangements. The arrangements in question exhibit their own diversity while also presenting quite a bit of familiarity. Case in point is the album’s opener and latest single, ‘I Can’t Find My Way.’ The song’s arrangement immediately lends itself to comparison to works from the J. Geils Band with the subtlest touch of Def Leppard. Immediately after that, the band conjures thoughts of Van Halen circa 1988 (the year that the band released its album, OU812) in ‘See The Light.’ The comparison comes through the overall arrangement. The song’s production immediately gives the song that same distinct sound. Meanwhile, front man Patrick Kearney sounds so closely similar to former VH front man Sammy Hagar here. Again that is thanks in part to the song’s production. The sound of his vocals here are not fully identical, but certain the similarity is there. The whole makes the song one of the most engaging and entertaining of the album’s songs. As if that is not enough, the band even reaches back to Van Halen’s David Lee Roth era through its original song, ‘Don’t Keep Me Waiting.’ Again, the production and the band’s approach to crafting the song play into that comparison. At the same time, audiences can also hear a not so subtle influence from Def Leppard here. This is not the only time in the record in which the band exhibits that influence, either. ‘Do You Really Want To Fall in Love,’ and ‘If You Want Love’ each exhibit Def Leppard’s influence, too. As if all of this is not enough, the band offers audiences some heavier sounds of the 80s in this record, too, such as in the clearly Ratt-esque closer, ‘All Over Again’ and the Whitesnake-esque closer, ‘You Found Yesterday.’ Between everything noted here and the influences that are evident in the album’s other songs, the collective musical content leaves no doubt that it will appeal to Station’s fans and those of the rock sounds of the 80s. They build a strong foundation for the record for those audiences. They are just part of what will ensure the album’s appeal. The album’s lyrical themes add their own touch to the record’s appeal.
The lyrical themes featured in Perspective are maybe not as diverse as the record’s musical arrangements. They are however, still accessible. As the titles of certain songs note, some of the songs center of romantic relationships. The album’s opener, ‘I Can’t Find My Way’ meanwhile is about taking chances in life so as to reach one’s potential. Guitarist Chris Lane discussed that theme during a recent interview, noting, “Not wanting to take the chances in life that allow you to follow your own path. It really speaks to the spirit of the band with how we approached this record and what we wanted to accomplish.” It gives audiences something a little bit different from the album’s love songs, adding to the ensured appeal. On a similar note, ‘Believe’ is clearly about believing in one’s own self. Kearney makes that clear as he sings, “that you shouldn’t need another in the end” in the song’s chorus as he notes that we only need ourselves for reassurance and self confidence. He points out in the song’s second verse that troubled times will come, but then reminds listeners they can get through those times. It is a them that is certain to resonate with not just the audiences noted here but with listeners in general with that accessibility. The theme here is also one more example of what makes the album’s lyrical content stand out. When the album’s musical and lyrical content is considered together, the whole makes for more than enough reason for the noted audiences to give this album a chance. They are just a part of what makes the album worth hearing, too. The record’s sequencing rounds out the most important of the album’s elements.
Perspective’s sequencing is important to note because it is this element that ensures the album moves fluidly from start to end. Thanks to the time and thought that went into the album’s sequencing, the songs’ energies rise and fall solidly at all of the right points. It opens on in upbeat fashion in ‘I Can’t Find My Way’ before picking up even more in ‘See The Light.’ From there, things pull back a little bit in ‘Do You Really Want To Fall in Love Again.’ The band doesn’t let the album pull back too much though, as the record picks back up again in the noted Van Halen/DLR-era style song, ‘Don’t Keep Me Waiting.’ The steady mid-tempo work, with its blues rock approach is a distinct change of pace from its predecessor. ‘Tonight,’ the album’s midpoint, pulls things back again with its clearly contemplative sound and stylistic approach. From that point on to the album’s end, the songs’ energies continue to rise and fall at all of the right points, too. The result is that the record’s sequencing keeps the album moving solidly from one song to the next while also keeping the songs’ sounds and styles changing along with their lyrical themes. The end result is that the sequencing proves just as successful here as the record’s overall content. All things considered, the album proves a work that, again, any fans of the rock sounds of the 80s will enjoy just as much as those with any affinity for the 80s in general. To that end, it proves a work that those audiences will agree is a success.
Station’s fourth album, Perspective, is a work on which the band’s audiences will have a positive point of view. That also applies to those who are still living in that era. This is proven in large part through the album’s featured musical arrangements. The arrangements show clear influences from some of the biggest musical acts of the age, from the J. Geils Band, to Def Leppard, to Van Halen, Dokken and even Ratt and others. The lyrical themes featured in the band’s new album prove just as accessible as the record’s musical arrangements. They are also diverse in their own right. The content’s sequencing takes all of that into full account along with the songs’ energies in assembling the songs. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered, they make the album on which the band’s audiences will have a positive perspective.
Perspective is available now through Station Music, LLC through AWAL. More information on the album is available along with all of Station’s latest news at:
Website: https://www.stationband.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stationnyc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stationnyc
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