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Artist: Hundred Year Storm
Bands: Bill McCharen (vocals and guitar), David Kiesel (guitar and vocals), Brandon Johnson (drums) and Shane Fling (bass guitar, keys and vocals)
Label: Floodgate Records FDG 63012-2 (2006)
12 tracks
Running Length: 53 minutes
When one thinks of the term, “hundred year storm,” one thinks of Galveston, Texas and sure enough, the band, Hundred Year Storm, does come from Texas, but Austin to be exact. This is a strong, rhythmic band that does not overpower the vocalist, which is mainly Bill McCharen. The band plays their own music on subjects from love to accompanying Florence Nightingale to a terrible plane crash. In fact, history plays a factor on this CD.
The opening, “00.01” has a brief recorded message from Florence Nightingale that was done in 1890. The band segues well from her voice to an accompaniment. The same type of thing happens with the last track, “Pilot’s Last Broadcast” which follows the radio transmissions from a pilot as he is going down, and this is interspersed with the band’s music.
“Yesterday We Had It All” encourages us to hang in there, “the waters still rising, but here we are safe.” “Walking Away From What You Deserve” has a wonderful balance within the group with vocals and guitars and “the ground is giving way walk away with me.” “Where Beauty Never Dies” is searching for love and “whatever the price I’ll pay, whatever the road I’ll take it to find you.” Great harmonies here.
Track nine, “Winter Is Always Good for Broken Hearts” is another example of this band’s good harmony with the lyrics coming through while instruments prove a listen able, but not over-powering background. “You’re just a morning away” and the singer is going to find what he is looking for. “Crash and Burn” is powerful and the lyrics say, “wake me up before I crash and burn” and this is appropriate for the last selection, “Pilot’s Last Broadcast” previously mentioned.
Lead vocalist Bill McCharen moves the band forward in each selection. His music speaks of love in its aspects of searching, finding or losing. Something everyone can relate to. The clever arrangements with historical incidents are certainly a bonus.
Copyright 2006 Marie Asner
Submitted 8/21/06
