Playing the Numbers Game

I couldn't believe it when I had a look back over my posts recently and discovered that I've been running this blog for four years now! My blog started life with a rather conspicuous nod to my favourite band Bon Jovi, including reviews of releases and live shows. I opened my umbrella up further to include reviews of other established bands but sought reward in more regular posts of reviews of local and/or up and comping artists in dire need of all the free publicity they could get.

It was interesting, though I suppose not so surprising, when looking at the stats for individual posts to see that when the content was based around Bon Jovi or other established bands, the view count was off the scale as compared to reviews of indie artists, and even peaked at an unheard of 7000+ for a review of a John Mayer/Ellie Goulding concert! Other spikes tend to be focussed around guest posts which I welcome, so if you've something in mind and would like to contribute, please do get in touch!

As a blog that associates itself with Bon Jovi, I have refrained from passing comment on the recent dramas and happenings among the band, whilst supporting both Richie and his solo endeavours and the band in theirs (it's sad to refer to both as separate entities). I have my own opinions, but have decided to focus my blog content on exposure and free publicity for indie artists; providing this is more important to me, as a musician myself brimming with empathy, than higher numbers of visitors -  I don't make any money through advertising on the site, it's more a labour of love. I'm sure this isn't an admission of exclusivity but it's important to provide a service to those who need it most, and I enjoy offering critique and opinion on those who might actually listen and heed my advice or celebrate my comments most of all.

Thanks for your support over the past four years; life has evolved as it has a habit of doing and with that has come more and less activity over the years but I'll always try to find time to post and can only hope people continue to seek new music in this way.

Glenn
When We Were Beautiful

New Artist Alert: Charlie Played Cello

It's been a while as Staind once sang, but I've found a little time between two great holidays (Poland and Tunisia if you're interested) and moving house next weekend to have a listen to LA's Charlie Played Cello, who have just recently released their album 'Red'. The band's name is a nod to a friend of the band who sadly died in a road accident on the way home from one of the band's shows, and his cello playing is featured on the album.

Charlie Played Cello describe themselves as having a "unique and dynamic sound that spans from mainstream power-pop to sinister post-punk anthems, in the spirit of Weezer and Jimmy Eat World". Offering the opportunity of a reminiscent throw-back to my tender teenage, Kerrang TV-watching days, I was tempted to check out CPC and, sure enough, the hints of these iconic guitar bands are evident in Red.


'Memories Collide' packs a minor-feeling, garage-band punch with a unique vocal sound and throbbing organ poking through the mix. I feel the vocals might be a little 'marmite' for some listeners but the track plods along with help from the drum pattern as the snare hits stab on every crotchet beat throughout the verses. It builds to a cool guitar-solo section reminding me of Richie Sambora's feel-good country-inspired solos when Bon Jovi met Nashville.


'Run Away With Me' with its dense intro section packed full of melodies, instruments, and musical ideas settles into a grooving middle-of-the-road rock track which chugs along nicely enough. The chorus didn't hit me as hard as I'd like, with more emphasis seemingly placed on the main riff which features in the intro and the vocals sound a little strained but the backing vocals help to ease the slight tensity. The guitar sound is great in the short solo lick but I can't help thinking the chorus after this could have been really stripped back and sparse to create a bigger impact for the final chorus and outro riff. By all means a good rock song but one I feel could be even better with a brief trip back to the drawing board.


'Light Me On Fire It's Midnight' reminds me of the guitar-led Weezer and Jimmy... feel that drew me in in the first place and the chorus is great. The track is short and sweet and to the point though still finds time for a guitar solo which is fine by me, and feels like the memorable sing-along track that would have the most success with radio airplay.


Charlie Played Cello offer exactly what it says on the tin; it's no-thrills guitar-rock that rightly deserves radio-time and, although might not be something that appeals to an English audience as much as an American one (or at least not a young one) still has scope to offer the band success which I wish them in the future.


Be sure to check out CPC on Facebook whilst Red is available now on iTunes.