Posted: January 11th, 2008
Contributed By: Nick
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Purchase @ Amazon.com Release Date: January 13, 2009 via Merovingian Music / Caroline / EMI |
| Royal Bliss is: Neal Middleton (Vocals) Taylor Richards (Guitar) Chris Harding (Guitar) Tommy Mortensen (Bass) Jake Smith (Drums) |
Overview: The most newsworthy attraction to come from Utah since the Malone-Stockton era Jazz, Salt Lake City’s Royal Bliss scratched and clawed their way to a major label deal with EMI to release their newest offering ‘Life In-Between‘. I had never so much as heard of Royal Bliss until a TuneLabMusic.com reader suggested I check them out. I purchased their album ‘After the Chaos II‘ on a whim, having heard a total of zero minutes, zero seconds of their music. When I popped the CD in for the first time and heard the band belt out the memorable tune “Brave”, I knew I was sold. Another one of my favorites from ‘After the Chaos II‘ is “Devils & Angels”, which just so happens to re-appear for ‘Life In-Between‘. Listen for the album’s first single “Save Me” impacting rock radio now.
The Good: Royal Bliss have drawn a map for a Scavenger hunt with ‘Life In-Between‘, because with each song you will need a different accessory to go with it. Your guide is explained below…
“Save Me”: Acroma’s CD ‘Orbitals‘
- This scrappy, rousing track reminds me heavily of the band Acroma, a tragically forgotten rock group whose lone CD ‘Orbitals‘ sounds like the foster home which raised and groomed the brave leadoff single “Save Me”.
“Here They Come”: The Killer’s CD ‘Sam’s Town‘
- “Here They Come” is lively and zippy, dashing from start to finish with The Killer’s song “When You Were Young” taking notes on how to actually sound pleasant along the way.
“Devils & Angels”: A dreamcatcher
- A tune that wants to be a hit so badly, “Devils & Angels” is almost too meaningful and too enlightening to be subjected to radio. Boasting an abundance of power and vibrancy, a dreamcatcher is about the only thing able to contain and spiritually radiate all its glory.
“Pocket of Dreams”: The child of Collective Soul and Candlebox
- “Pocket of Dreams” is a throwback, jam-packed with a rustic, flannel charm that only the offspring of the two aforementioned 90′s rock icons could encapsulate.
“Finally Figured Out”: A “wanted: dead or alive” poster
- It’s not a sought after criminal, but instead, this sensitive slice of humble pie comes right from Bon Jovi’s oven, effortlessly moving mountains without giving love a bad name or trampling a bed of roses.
“We Did Nothing Wrong”: A leather jacket
- This thick, brooding jam has as much arena-ready luster as it does modern rock charm. Just like a leather jacket, “We Did Nothing Wrong” is a symbol of daring adventure that never rests, that legions of kids oogle over, and stands tall with a cool suave throughout the test of time.
“By & By”: Stephanie Seymour
- Dripping with as much desire as it is despair, the charming “By & By” is a naked, bare bones summary of Guns ‘n Roses’ “November Rain”, sans all the Axl tabloid bullshit; oh, Stephanie Seymour was the chick from the “November Rain” video, because why have Axl hangin’ around and mooching your Dr. Pepper when you can steal her instead?
“Wash It All Away”: Coffee
- Wash down the snappy and determined caffeine jolt that is “Wash It All Away” with a brew of your own, amping you up to the high-flying levels needed to fully enjoy this one.
“Whiskey”: Gentleman Jack
- If you’re looking to get hammered, look no further than the racy and unrelenting “Whiskey”, a song that slams almost as hard as your shot glass hitting the table. Its guitar work is sleazy and grimy, however Royal Bliss is gentleman enough not to cross into Buckcherry territory. Git ‘r done!
“Fancy Things”: Jim Cantori
- “Fancy Things” is reflective the way Weather Channel mainstay Jim Cantori is standing on a Florida beach with a category 5 hurricane at his back. And “Fancy Things” loves a challenge the way he does too. The song purposely chases storms and sees Royal Bliss putting itself into dark, cloudy spots, in an attempt to try and bring sunshine, relief, and freedom to the ominous parts.
“I Don’t Mind”: A quiet, peaceful place
- If you’re looking to “make peace” with yourself, turn on the winsome tearjerker “I Don’t Mind” and lose yourself in the tranquility. Fans of Live’s “Lightning Crashes” will appreciate this one to the fullest extent.
“I Was Drunk”: A designated driver
- Greased up and liquored up, “I Was Drunk” is what you might find yourself wailing gleefully with your pals at last call. Or, you might just hear this one during a country bumpkin bride and groom’s first dance. In all seriousness, “I Was Drunk” is a very personal song once you peel back the rind, getting its point across in a lighthearted way.
The Bad: To make up for the shortcomings of ‘Life In-Between‘, the following items are recommended…
1. Coffee
- The album has a tendency to get a little vapid, so save yourself a cup from the pot you brewed for “Wash It All Away”.
2. A book of brain teasers/crossword puzzles
- ‘Life In-Between‘ is no Einstein, and the only song that will make your thinking cap earn its stripes is “Devils & Angels”. Better seek elsewhere if you’re craving a philosophical quest.
3. A cute puppy
- The disc’s overall personality is blue, and a furry little puppy dog by your side will help brighten up your journey through ‘Life In-Between‘.
Bottomline: If you weren’t able to get your hands on Stephanie Seymour, I understand. But if you try to use that copout as an excuse for not checking out Royal Bliss’ ‘Life In-Between‘, it won’t cut the mustard. Because if you’re a fan of today’s active rock, you’ll enjoy ‘Life In-Between‘. If you’re a fan of yesterday’s alternative rock, you’ll dig ‘Life In-Between‘. If you’re a fan of Blue Oyster Cult, Bang Tango, Blind Melon, or Breaking Benjamin, you’ll appreciate ‘Life In-Between‘. And if you’re just a jack of all trades and enjoy rock from the Oklahoma saloons to the New York City dives and everything in between, you will find something to call your own on ‘Life In-Between‘.
TuneLab Rating: 8.5 out of 10
If you’re a fan of music reviews and the reviewers that make them, you’ll like Life In Between.
@Nick
Your review is dead on, I swear, because I’ve watch a bit of the video from the single “Save Me” and the recommendations of Blue Oyster Cult, Bang Tango, Blind Melon, and Breaking Benjamin are dead on suggestions that you’ve given if people like to listen today’s active rock or like to go back in the heyday of alt rock. I know. I’m still in love with the Smashing Pumpkins because I’m still stuck like if things were in 1995!
Though, I would have given an 8 instead of 8.5, but whatever. Your review is the best I’ve read.
where did you guys hear this?
Nevermind, gonna hear this now thanks to Tunelab.
I am buying this one. This is one of my new favorites, great lyrical content, awesome hooky songs, love everything about this band.
Ive heard several of the songs over the last few months. I like everything Ive heard and Ive been waiting to check out the whole CD.
Might you do a review on Dead Confederate soon Nick? I think they deserve one of your more lengthy and complex reviews, as I think Dead Confederate have a certain complexity in their album. Ive heard some good albums recently, but this one shoots right up there with most Ive listened to(and liked) recently, and in the recent past. I was looking for something new, a little familiar , but also unique, and I think I found exactly what I was looking for.
Love everything about this band…haven’t put out a song i haven’t liked yet.
And Nick you are welcome lol
haha pen might have just made the most awesome comment ever
fred, ill be sure to check into dead confederate today…now that ive decided to end my writing strike and that my computer if fully functional again, ill be getting back to work today haha
@ ohgreat, thanks very much dude.not only for your thoughts on this review but for your consistent feedback on just about every review i do.thanks.
I gotta be honest, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot from this album but it’s quite good. Just a solid alternative rock record. I love Finally Figured Out.
And I thought I was the only person who remembered Acroma.
Nope, there’s 3 of us. Acroma was the shiiiiit.
This album debuted at #4 on the Heatseeker’s chart with 3,120 sold. That’s pretty damn good! Can’t wait to get a copy.
Best band I’ve heard in a while…had to buy After the Chaos II just to keep myself distracted enough to not chew off my own arm in anticipation of my local best buy getting copies of the new album. I dont know how I missed them over the last couple of years, I feel like a moron.
Thank you for the song-by-song breakdown. The songs that come off as country are just country enough to keep me from buying the album, while at the same time I’d have missed out if I ignored the others. Yay itunes.
GEEZ PEN KISSING SOME ASS ARE WE