Grace Solero – New Moon
If you are looking for an album packed with enough alternative rock tracks to fill the Emirates Stadium, then this is the album you are looking for. The debut from Grace Solero brings together inspiration from many countries including Italy, New Zealand, America and Mexico, the birthplaces of the band members.
With this album there are two very different viewpoints. On one hand, there is the sound of the album. The style of each track is very similar to the one before it, and the one after. With this running through twelve tracks it can be a little tedious but overall the style of the tracks are brilliant. 'If U Feel' has some pounding electric riffs that slowly power up, 'New Place' has acoustic guitar, while 'I Don't' is a bit slower, and as the chorus kicks in, the track speeds up, to a dark sound when vocals and guitars are combined. There is also an excellent and very creative guitar solo in 'Stay'.
On the other hand there are the vocals, which could be considered the down point of the album. On the track 'Troops' band member Dan chips in with male vocals, which are far better as they have the edge to be rock. When both sing together, the listener gets a little disorientated. It is with the dominant female vocals where the problem lies. I am not saying she doesn't have the vocal ability to be a performer, as she does, there is a lot of talent in this lady. It is the style of music her vocals are unable to stand up to. Rock is meant to be edgy, fast paced and full of enthusiasm. On 'Apartheid' the vocals sound like she is putting way to much effort in trying to reach the high notes, and forgets it's more about breathing and making an enjoyable track, and in 'Star' her Alanis Morissette style vocals are so powerful they drown out the amazing sounds underneath. It is the ballads where Grace's talent lies. On the tracks 'Heal Me' and 'Diary', which are slower acoustic numbers, the vocals are some of the best on the album.
'New Moon' is an experimental debut that does need some work if Grace Solero intends to stick it out with the big guns around. Having said that, there is definitely some potential that if worked on, could be a worthwhile listen.