| Bring It On
Artist: Mirrors Label: Independent This album is one of the reasons I still buy independent artists without knowing much about them--because of the joy that can be gained from hearing something good when you least expect it. The album opens up with a lone lead guitar soaring and echoing as though it were played in a vast stadium. From there they break into some completely uncluttered electric rock that draws influences from 20 years of classic rock/pop. I was caught completely unaware by the very simplicity that's found here; each song is driven by mid-range rhythm guitar and fresh, positive vocals and harmonies. The lyrics follow and blend in with the songs, obviously from a Christian point of view but completely unobtrusive at the same time. Musically, I want to bring up Boston or Foreigner or someone, but that's not quite right. Completely derivative but somehow completely unlike anything else out there right now. Then strangely, Bring It On totally changes tone halfway through the album, tuning the guitars down and switching from classic rock-style riffs to basic 90s groove/metal/hard rock songs. It's like a cloud came over a sunny day, and I love it. The first track of this kind, "You Won't," is probably one of my favorite songs EVER, with a stomp-stomp riff straight from old Deliverance and a haunting lead echo in the background. A couple of other tracks on the album's second half bring to mind recent mellow Metallica and Alice in Chains, but without resorting to imitation. To be honest, this album seems almost otherworldly to me. It's like bottled water from a North Pole iceberg. It resembles so much other music I've heard before, but does it with a certain untainted purity and wholesomeness, so that I'm left not knowing exactly what to feel. The critical side of me scoffs at the innocence, while my music fan side grins from ear to ear. All rockers young and old should check this out for sure. It's available from http://www.ruggedcross.com/ or one can contact
the
Mirrors
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