It’s hard to believe this is THE ANSWER’S seventh album! It seems like just yesterday I had high hope for the Northern Ireland to lead the charge for the next Generation of Hard Rock. And they have do some degree, but we have to realize that the 70’s and 80’s are over and music is splintered off into a million (it seems) little branches and niches, at least as far as new music goes.
“Sundowners” is about what you would expect from a Hard Rockin’ band seven albums in. They’ve matured and so has the sound. They’re less worried about the Rockers and seem to be trying to appeal to a more adult audience, not that adults can’t rock, but they have lost their “edge” so a more refined soulful sound.
While THE ANSWER are still a Rock band, it sounds like they’re going after the female crowd versus they men. It’s not a dumb idea, where the women go, the men follow. They’re on the trajectory to be a AAA band like The Black Keys sooner than later. How do I know that? I was a AAA music director and heard the music, they could airplay on that format right now with the single “Oh Cherry” and “All Together”. They’d still be on the heavier side of the fence, but barely.
Am I disappointed with the album? Personally yes, I already miss that Arena Rock bombastic sound. For them professionally it might be a good move, we’ll have to wait and see. Die hard fans won’t be totally disappointed with “Sundowners”, they might pick up new fans and some might drop off, at the end of the day they’re still extremely talented and just trying to navigate their way through this crazy music industry.
The Answer:
Lead Vocal, Backing Vocals and Harmonic: Cormac Neeson.
Guitars and Backing Vocals: Paul Mahon.
Bass and Backing Vocals: Micky Waters.
Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals: James Heatley.
Produced by Daniel Weller
Mixed by Daniel Weller
Recorded and Engineered by Peter Miles and Jamie Ward at Middlefarm Studios, Devon
Keyboards by Jonny Henderson
Female Backing Vocals by Becca Langford, Elani Evangelou and Grace Lightman
Mastered by Dick Beetham at 360 Mastering
Written by Neeson / Mahon / Heatley / Waters
Publishing Copyright Control
Tickets: www.theanswerrock.com
Label: https://7hzrecordings.com (UK & Europe)
Label: https://goldenrobotrecords.com/ (ROW)
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/5c90Qv0wkAfHFu243e7qxX
Apple:https://music.apple.com/us/album/blood-brother/1640395077?ls=1
Deezer:www.deezer.com/album/347612407
