DANIEL ANDERSSON - Days In L.A. (2012)

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All true Westcoast and AOR fans are already aware of State Cows, the Swedish band who brought back the classy sounds of the genre with their debut a couple years ago.
Founder member DANIEL ANDERSSON released his own CD "Days In L.A." shortly before only in Scandinavia and in limited quantities. Now is available worldwide and with the addition of a new track as bonus.

Daniel has studied music in Los Angeles where he met and played with Jason Scheff (Chicago) and Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets). Back in Sweden he started to record what would become this CD.
What's very strong about "Days In L.A." is the mix of styles cleverly assembled and superbly played. Andersson takes you on a ride that passes through villages of AOR, Westcoast, Melodic Rock and even a bluesy spice.
If you're scared to be bored with the same riffs, the same production sound, the same arrangements all over – well, it ain't gonna happen here.

The opening track "Glamorous Hollywood" really sets the mood and when the keyboard solo towards the middle of the song starts I find myself already falling in love with the album. This track reminds me a lot of Bill LaBounty and Robbie Dupree.
Then comes "Lift Me Up", which is a Summer smelling melodic rock tune in a Richard Marx meets Venice style. The vocals are clear and pristine backed by strong guitar playing.
On the midtempo "In My Mind" the keyboards take a central role drawing a marvelous melody, while follower "The Dealmaker" is a classic uptempo Westcoast in a Chicago / Toto vein.

I enthusiastically applaud the mix of styles on this CD, all done perfectly, but if you want to listen a track that clearly represents Daniel Andersson and his all-Swede league of magic musicians, then pick "Easy Street Shuffle". This is pure gold, plenty of smooth intrumentation, amazing melodies and terrific arrangements.
The excellence continues with the superb rhythms of the Bill Champlin-like "Keep On Trying", the early Kenny Loggins melodius "Tell Me" and the breezy harmonies in the ballad "Everytime You Come Around".
"I Can't Stand It Any Longer" mixes classy L.A. sounds with pulsating Melodic Rock nuances (another high point on this super CD) delivering a first class guitar parts, while the new track "Cafe Des Arts" goes back thirty years to a classic smooth Westcoast much in the vein of his band State Cows.


Great playing and fantastic songwriting is the simplest and best way to describe this future classic, not only in the AOR / Westcoast genres, but also in the Melodic Rock field.
Daniel Andersson and these Swedish guys (including his partner in State Cows Stefan Olofsson who also plays here) are the future of the genre, they have the class and the skills of the great names from L.A. scene.
As if all that was not enough, the outstanding production in "Days In L.A." was handled by Andersson as well. He's managed to find a full blooded sound from a small budget – it's close to a miracle. You will easily be fooled into believing this is a major label production, that's how good it is.
I dare to say that "Days In L.A." is a Must Have album in your collection, and as said, a future AOR / Westcoast Classic.
A Must Have.


01 - Glamorous Hollywood
02 - Lift Me Up
03 - In My Mind
04 - The Dealmaker
05 - Easy Street Shuffle
06 - Keep On Trying
07 - Tell Me
08 - Everytime You Come Around
09 - I Can't Stand It Any Longer
10 - Cafe Des Arts (Bonus Track)


Daniel Andersson (vocals, guitar, keyboards)
Stefan Olofsson (keyboards, Fender Rhodes)
Fredrik Lundgren (guitar)
Peter Holmqvist (guitar)
Mikael Sandstrom (guitar)
Stefan Forsberg (keyboards)
Mikael Emsing, Paulo Murga (drums)
Paulo Murga, Mikael Emsing (percussion)
Per Wretling, Anders Jonsson (horns)
Olle Nigeus, Peter Nygren (sax)
Christian Thomsen (background vocals)



BUY IT !
www.nehrecords.com/shop/AnderssonDays.htm

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V.A. - Advanced Releases sampler September 4 (2011)

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Jimi Jamison (ex SURVIVOR singer) and Bobby Kimball (ex TOTO lead singer) are joining forces together in a duet album which promises to be one of the highlights of 2011 in the Melodic Rock scene.
The advanced single "Can’t Wait For Love" has a beautiful recurring keyboard refrain, a lovely hummable chorus and short but very sweet solo.


After a 20 year hiatus, international recording artist and actress Fiona is back in action with a new CD, 'Unbroken', produced by James Christian of the famed House Of Lords.
'Unbroken' contains mostly all new songs written by Fiona, James Christian, Tommy Denander, Holly Knight, and Marc Tanner.
Fans will embrace Unbroken’s intense melodic rock sound which is driven by guitarist/songwriter Tommy Denander and topped off with performances from original Fiona band member, Bobby Messano.
The advanced single “Loved Along The Way” hearkens back to her earlier albums with an irresistible melody and chorus.


After the release of their anniversary album "Branded" which early this year has charted in Germany, Bavaria’s finest rockers Bonfire are surprising their fans now with a second birthday party and a special present.
On the anniversary concerts all over Europe, the band played entirely their classic album 'Fireworks'. All these shows have been recorded, and will be released as "Fireworks - Still Alive".
This new CD offers a couple of bonus tracks including the song “I’m On My Way” – a touching tribute on the late Steve Lee, singer of Gotthard, and live recordings of the hits "You Make Me Feel", "Sword And Stone", "Just Follow The Rainbow" plus a different single version of “Let It Grow” from their current CD 'Branded'.


Swedish quartet Hardcore Superstar is celebrating ten years of awesome music by releasing a 'Best Of' compilation.
"The Party Ain’t Over ‘Til We Say So" will feature songs from records released between the years of 2000-2010.
The compilation also includes a brand-new single, “We Don’t Need A Cure.”


Norwegian rockers Lipstick Liontigers are finally releasing their new EP "Aliens from Outer Space (They´re Not of This Earth)".
The promotional single "So Many Miles" is a great classic melodic hard rocker in the vein of mid-eighties Europe and Tobruk.


Mr. Big UK were a British melodic rock&pop band, active in the 1970s and 1990s, best known for their 1977 Top 5 hit, 'Romeo'. They're back in 2011 with a new album, 'Bitter Streets'.
The first single “Georgia” (with a different mix) was released on the 12th Sept. It's a beautifully orchestrated melodic song.


Swedish Westcoast / AOR delicious band State Cows released a wonderful debut album last year in the best Airplay, Pages, Maxus tradition.
Do you miss 1983? In that case, their brand new single "Hard Goodbye" is a wonderful trip to these melodious years. Awesome tune.


Renato Abella is a musician/composer based in New York. He will be releasing an album titled “Beauteous Maximus” in December 2011.
The first single, "I Miss You" features Grammy award winning vocalist Dave Bickler, former lead singer of the band Survivor (Eye of the Tiger era) and lead guitar by Brad Gillis of the band Night Ranger.
Very good song that builds up to a wall of sound.


Mitch Malloy is currently hard at work on his new solo album, which will be on sale in time for Firefest and sees Mitch hoping to outdo his glorious debut in the melodic rock stakes. Having already written songs with Danger Danger’s Bruno Ravel and Harem Scarem’s Pete Lesperence, Mitch is having a blast writing for this new album.
"I think this CD will be more 80s than my first one" says Mitch, "I'm thinking of calling it 'Malloy 2011' or 'Mitch Malloy II' because I feel right now that it truly is the follow up to the first album, although you will hear some new 'from me' things that I haven't done."


Singer/songwriter Jeremey Frederick is a platinum-selling songwriter (under his full name of Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker) thanks to his association with the band Journey – and a writing credit on the million-selling 2008 release 'Revelation' – .
His 1st full length solo CD, “Every Little Thing,” will be released in the autumn of 2011.
The first single "This Is Your Life" is a terrific power ballad showcasing his unique and original voice.
Do you miss Steve Perry? Check Jeremey, it's amazing.


Axel Rudi Pell's is releasing 'The Ballads IV', compiling the softer side of Pell's last releases plus new tracks.
One of the new recordings "Hallelujah", is also published as single featuring a different guitar solo, much calmer and melodic.



01 - Kimball Jamison - Can't Wait For Love (3:55)
02 - Fiona - Loved Along The Way (3:34)
03 - Bonfire - Let It Grow [different single version] (3:26)
04 - Hardcore Superstar - We Don't Need A Cure (4:11)
05 - Lipstick Liontigers - So Many Miles (3:34)
06 - Mr. Big UK - Georgia [Non-Album Mix] (3:41)
07 - State Cows - Hard Goodbye (4:21)
08 - Renato Albella - I Miss You [ft. Dave Bickler & Brad Gillis] (3:25)
09 - Mitch Malloy - I'm The One (5:01)
10 - Jeremey Frederick - This Is Your Life (4:44)
11 - Axel Rudi Pell - Hallelujah [single version with different solo] (4:12)



You've seen them first here, at 0dayrock

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STATE COWS - State Cows (2010)

OK, this is a melodic rock / AOR site, but this Westcoast - AOR gem deserved to be here.

Sweden might not be the biggest producer of westcoast-music in the world, but there has been some very fine records, most notably Peter Friestedt, Smooth Reunion or Stefan Gunnarsson.
State Cows joins this gang with a very fine release, a really old school Westcoast at its best, sounding like the great bands from the early 80's.

The group is made up of just 2 members, Stefan Olofsson and Daniel Andersson, the latter released a very good record a couple of years ago called 'Days in L.A.'
They have played some years together in their hometown of Umeå and also been in Los Angeles together were they have met the crop of the westcoast-elite.

The record itself must be dubbed "the Swedish answer to AIRPLAY".
No fillers in sight here.
The initial 'I've changed' is a delicious way start the disc, extremely melodic with a very catchy chorus. Stefan Olofsson takes fully into this track and delivers many beautiful sounds / harmonies on his keyboards solos.
The extremely slick 'New York town' (were Jay Graydon plays the solo), features intricate melodies and a strong wind section.
'Stella by the barlight' is one of the many gems on this album, with a rather distinctive slap bass and brilliant keyboards.
'Mystery Jane' has a CHICAGO vibe, 'Tunisian Nights' shows off a wide range of musical variation, with AIRPLAY influences presented in a rather clear way.
'Lost in a mind game' is STEELY DAN - style tune. This song just contains everything that a really serious westcoast wants.

This record outclasses everything that has come in the genre the latest years.
Beautiful and melodic arrangements, very catchy choruses, top class instrumentation, and a production that should make Mr. David Foster / Mr. Jay Graydon more than willing to cooperate with the gentlemen Andersson / Olofsson in the future.

If you like AIRPLAY, PAGES, MAXUS, PETER BECKETT, CHICAGO, L.A. COWBOYS, lots of vintage Fender Rhodes and Moog keyboards, or simply just good music, don't miss this one.
It will be a classic.


1. I’ve Changed
2. New York Town
3. Come To The Point
4. Stella By The Barlight
5. Mystery Jane
6. Painting A Picture
7. Tunisian Nights
8. Looney Gunman
9. Riding This Highway
10. No Man’s Land - Instrumental
11. Lost In A Mind Game

All songs written and produced
by Stefan Olofsson and Daniel Andersson


Daniel Andersson: vocals, guitar
Stefan Olofsson: keyboards, vocals

Fredrik Lundgren: Guitars
Peter Olofsson: Drums
Peter Fredlander: Drums
Stefan ”Kilju” Lindholm: Bass
Mikael Emsing: Percussion
Pär Wretling, Olle Lindberg, Markus Asplund: Horns
Marcuz Granberg: Backing vocals
Christian Thomsen: Backing vocals

Jay Graydon: Guitar solo (New York town)
Peter Holmqvist: Guitar solo (Come to the point)
Mikael Sandström: Guitar solo (Stella by the barlight)
Petri Kivimäki: Sax solo (Looney gunman)
Göran Turborn: Guitar solo (Lost in a mind game)

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