Post by chitowngirl on Feb 21, 2006 11:06:42 GMT -5
For anyone that hasn't seen this, you should check it out! Its a very positive review and if you click at the bottom, you are linked to the interview with Marty.
www.ifmagazine.com/review.asp?article=1148
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By: CARL CORTEZ
Contributing Editor
Pop idols and disposable boy bands come and go, but if you’re a great rock and roller, your legacy can be eternal.
That’s why it’s debatable whether a show like AMERICAN IDOL really spawns the next generation of durable performers, or is just another TV show with ancillary interests in the music business.
By that same token, it seemed a little suspicious when CBS first aired their ROCK STAR: INXS show last summer as a venue to find the new lead singer of INXS. Thankfully, they spared us the agony of grooming rank amateurs to pro status. Instead they found a veritable potpourri of talented rockers throughout the country strutting their stuff. As cynical as this process seemed, it introduced the world to some incredible singers who would have not received that kind of exposure.
At the to of the list was runner-up Marty Casey. A Chicago hometown hero with his group Lovehammers, Casey tore up the stage with force on everything from the Foo Fighters "Everlong" to a darker version of Britney Spears’ bubblegum hit "Baby Hit Me One More Time." While there were many highpoints, it was his powerful interpretation of Pink Floyd’s "Wish You Were Here" and his self-penned "Trees" that really showed what a talented entertainer this guy was. Sure, he didn’t end up in INXS, but in hindsight that was a good thing because it also meant he could retain his unique voice and bring his new following back to his own band Lovehammers.
In order to capitalize on this momentum, the group now dubbed "Marty Casey and Lovehammers," hastily went into the studio to re-record nine tunes from their little-heard independent albums while adding a reconstituted "Trees" and a new tune "Casualty" to the line-up.
And guess what – a complete success. It may be a patchwork album on paper, but on record it’s a knock-out. Casey’s instantly catchy songs (co-written with bandmates Dino Kourelis, Bob Kourelis and William Sawilchik) are classic rockers, filled with energy and heart. These are songs that fit snugly in many radio formats, but retain a fresh flavor all their own.
Plus, with big bucks behind them, their sound has really been fleshed out. And while it would have been easy (and yes, another cynical move) to bring a who’s who of talented back-up musicians into the studio, Lovehammers resisted that urge. They do it all themselves, just like they always have and the reward for long-time fans and newcomers is all the better for it because these guys can outplay the best of them.
Of the songs, the stand-out track "Casualty" has a bit of a Goo Goo Dolls vibe to it on the outset, but builds to a ferocious fire. "Trees" has detoured from the pop happy sound displayed on ROCK STAR: INXS and has now gained a moodier edge. It’s debatable which is the better version, but it being so instantly catchy, it really comes down to preference.
Of the bands older repertoire, "Hold On" and "The Tunnel" rock hard, while "Clouds" has the soft poppy comforts of "Trees."
It took time for Lovehammers to get to the place they are and while the group does detour into slightly heavier rock indulgences that make the middle of the album sag a bit, they’re still very polished craftsman who are far from manufactured. There is very little room for bands to perfect and learn their craft as in the past and it’s nice to see a TV show give a boost to a performer (and now his band) that deserves the attention. This self-titled debut may be nothing more than a "Greatest Hits" for the faithful, but it’s also a step in the right direction for a group who now has a major label behind them and will hopefully groom them for the continued greatness they’ve earned.
CLICK BELOW FOR iF'S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MARTY CASEY
MARTY CASEY & LOVEHAMMERS
ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1420
www.ifmagazine.com/review.asp?article=1148
---------------------------------------------------------------------
By: CARL CORTEZ
Contributing Editor
Pop idols and disposable boy bands come and go, but if you’re a great rock and roller, your legacy can be eternal.
That’s why it’s debatable whether a show like AMERICAN IDOL really spawns the next generation of durable performers, or is just another TV show with ancillary interests in the music business.
By that same token, it seemed a little suspicious when CBS first aired their ROCK STAR: INXS show last summer as a venue to find the new lead singer of INXS. Thankfully, they spared us the agony of grooming rank amateurs to pro status. Instead they found a veritable potpourri of talented rockers throughout the country strutting their stuff. As cynical as this process seemed, it introduced the world to some incredible singers who would have not received that kind of exposure.
At the to of the list was runner-up Marty Casey. A Chicago hometown hero with his group Lovehammers, Casey tore up the stage with force on everything from the Foo Fighters "Everlong" to a darker version of Britney Spears’ bubblegum hit "Baby Hit Me One More Time." While there were many highpoints, it was his powerful interpretation of Pink Floyd’s "Wish You Were Here" and his self-penned "Trees" that really showed what a talented entertainer this guy was. Sure, he didn’t end up in INXS, but in hindsight that was a good thing because it also meant he could retain his unique voice and bring his new following back to his own band Lovehammers.
In order to capitalize on this momentum, the group now dubbed "Marty Casey and Lovehammers," hastily went into the studio to re-record nine tunes from their little-heard independent albums while adding a reconstituted "Trees" and a new tune "Casualty" to the line-up.
And guess what – a complete success. It may be a patchwork album on paper, but on record it’s a knock-out. Casey’s instantly catchy songs (co-written with bandmates Dino Kourelis, Bob Kourelis and William Sawilchik) are classic rockers, filled with energy and heart. These are songs that fit snugly in many radio formats, but retain a fresh flavor all their own.
Plus, with big bucks behind them, their sound has really been fleshed out. And while it would have been easy (and yes, another cynical move) to bring a who’s who of talented back-up musicians into the studio, Lovehammers resisted that urge. They do it all themselves, just like they always have and the reward for long-time fans and newcomers is all the better for it because these guys can outplay the best of them.
Of the songs, the stand-out track "Casualty" has a bit of a Goo Goo Dolls vibe to it on the outset, but builds to a ferocious fire. "Trees" has detoured from the pop happy sound displayed on ROCK STAR: INXS and has now gained a moodier edge. It’s debatable which is the better version, but it being so instantly catchy, it really comes down to preference.
Of the bands older repertoire, "Hold On" and "The Tunnel" rock hard, while "Clouds" has the soft poppy comforts of "Trees."
It took time for Lovehammers to get to the place they are and while the group does detour into slightly heavier rock indulgences that make the middle of the album sag a bit, they’re still very polished craftsman who are far from manufactured. There is very little room for bands to perfect and learn their craft as in the past and it’s nice to see a TV show give a boost to a performer (and now his band) that deserves the attention. This self-titled debut may be nothing more than a "Greatest Hits" for the faithful, but it’s also a step in the right direction for a group who now has a major label behind them and will hopefully groom them for the continued greatness they’ve earned.
CLICK BELOW FOR iF'S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MARTY CASEY
MARTY CASEY & LOVEHAMMERS
ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1420
