Mike Onesko - Re-covered (CDr pro)

Mike Onesko has released a buch of albums on his own, as well as with Blind Side Blues Band. There has been the occasional cover on his previous albums, but as the title may suggest, this one is all about that. The album starts off with two Robin Trower interpretations, the usual suspects I would say - ”Day of the Eagle” and ”Bridge of Sighs”. Mike doesn’t really stray away too far from the originals and even though I really like Mike as a guitarist, he unfortunately doesn't (and, well, not many) come close to Trower. The vocals are kick-ass, though. Steppenwolf’s ”Sookie Sookie” gets a solid makeover and he does a really fat and chunky updated version of Arthur Brown’s ”Fire”, where the vocals are instead a slightly weak link. I also like the chugging arrangement of The Beatles’ ”Elenor Rigby”. The cover of The Motels ”Only the Lonely”, to me, feels a little out of place with its semi-soft standard rock feel. Really good vocals by Angela Onesko, though. Odd choice of a cover methinks. Cream’s ”SWLABR” is more in line with the rest and is a great and solid offering. When doing a cover album I always try to avoid the obvious bar band cover songs recorded a zillion times. Well, Mike doing Hendrix ”Hey Joe” proves he doesn’t share that philosophy. A good effort, but I do wonder why? ”Wishing Well” is another standard, done true to the original. Led Zeppelin’s ”No Quarter” is not your average bar band cover, even though it has been quite frequently interpreted, and Mike does do a solid version of it, here with Jeff Martin handling the vocals, embracing his inner Plant. The album is a really good effort, no doubt, but I must admit I would have liked to see more unexpected covers, or at least some more daring arrangements. Maybe next time?

Janne Stark

Label: Jib Machine Records

Year: 2017

Country: USA

MÅRRAN - Mårran (CD)

Talk about an unexpected musical constellation! Göran Edman, singer extraordinaire with bands like Madison, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kharma, Norum, Glory etc., Björn Inge, drummer with classic seventies hard rockers November and renowned keyboard player Max Lorentz, flanked by bassist Morgan Korsmoe (Larz Christerz) and guitarist Ludwig Larsson (Dynamite Sky). Well, if I would compare these guys to any of their previous outings, it would definitely be November. Mårran plays seventies oriented, blues, groovy, riff-oriented hard rock sung in Swedish. What differs from November is Max’s hot and fat Hammond organ, which gives it a bit of a good old Deep Purple touch. I really love the earthy, acoustic sounding mix. The drums sound like they were recorded live in a good size room and the guitar oozes of tube amplification. Ludwig Larsson, looks like a pretty young guy, but his guitar playing sure sounds like he’s been around as long as his older fellows. The solo the guy kicks out in Dina ögon är blå is just amazing, and the break after the solo-part is worth the price of the CD alone. The track Del av mitt liv, reminds me a bit of the classic Free track Mr. Big and here the band is reinforced with Björn Inge’s former November colleague, guitarist Rickard Rolf, who adds a really nice solo. The intro of Syster Blå brings back memories of the first Montrose album, and Denny Carmassi kicking off Rock Candy. Not the same rhythm I know, but the general feel of it. A cool riff, and a pretty unexpected very melodic chorus. Med Lena shows a slightly folk-oriented touch. This is one of the most interesting Swedish releases of 2012 so far. It’s nothing new, there is no flashy wizardry, there are no hits, it’s just an album filled to the brim with really great music, played by outstanding musicians that have the power to express and transfer feelings through their music. Authentic, dynamic, groovy, infectious and damn great!
Janne Stark
Label: S Rock Records
Country: Sweden
Year: 2012
Link: www.mårran.se 

Magnolia - "Steg för steg" (CD)

Abramis Brama, Svarte Pan, Horisont, Mouchta and Magnolia. Just to name a few. It’s fun to see our country’s hard rock forefathers November have inspired so many new and great bands. Magnolia have now released three albums, the same amount November made during their short time of existence. The development for Magnolia have certainly progressed, even if I really liked the band even from the start. What hit me is that the production feels so much more solid on this album. It has really nice dynamics, free from all destructively over-the-top in-your-face mastering and mix. Despite this the sound is really fat and heavy with a classically seventies inspired broad stereo sound. Furthermore the guitars are heavy and raw but without being over-distorted. I can almost bet it’s pure tube amplification we’re hearing, it does really sound that way. Also, the drums are nicely liberated from any triggs and added sounds, instead they have gone for a Bonhamish room sound which can only be obtained using real drums in a real room. Just listen to the intro of “Nu får det vara nog”. This, in combination with Ronny’s fat distorted bass á la Felix Pappalardi makes this a sound for sore ears. Ronny is also a great singer and he, of course, sings in his mother language (Swedish if anyone wonders). I also feel the songs on the new album are stronger than ever, with a multitude of killer riffs nicely baked into the groovy songs. In the track “Jag vandrar” they have even succeeded making a Fender Rhodes piano sound heavy, which is an achievement well worth noticing! This album is a treat for us fans of seventies classics like Mountain, November, Cream, Blue Cheer etc. I’m actually quite impressed Ronny has succeeded in writing so many great riffs, that despite this well-explored genre, feel fresh and new. I actually didn’t feel any recognition of any other “oldie” in any of the songs. Of course you will hear traces of the influences, but the songs sounds new. Just like “the elder” is by no means a one track album, but spreads out into other musical areas, such as the cool jazz-bluesy, but still quite heavy “Jag vandrar”, with a killer guitar solo by Mark Tholin (who also handles the piano). Another example is the happy instrumental “Arbetar I solsken”, who also walks its own little path. A truly awesome album which is in it absolute top of all the current November worshippers’ works! Check it out!
Janne Stark
Year: 2010
Label: Transubstans
Country: Sweden
Link: http://www.myspace.com/magnoliarock