Academy Down - Sedona
Alternative/Alt. Rock, Indie Rock
Maryland, United States
Overall Impression: Combining strong performances, great writing, and topped off with solid production, "Sedona" is a brilliant indie/alternative rocker that is brimming with both variety and depth. Academy Down know their craft well, and you can really tell this is a group with superb chemistry, this is a tightly written piece that still manages to feel as if it were a live performance, something that isn't always easy to accomplish with a studio/home recording, but Academy Down has managed to capture that feeling brilliantly, resulting in a track with great energy and heaps of character, great stuff!
Strongest Point(s): I've always thought that a good indicator of how well a piece has been written and performed, as well as how well a band gels together, is how dynamics are approached and utilized. A track that's played at one continuous volume level is effective in certain scenarios, however, the songs that edge and flow through different shades of dynamic expression, always tend to be the more interesting, and it's nice to hear that "Sedona" is one of those very songs. There is a great amount of contrast between the track's various sections, from the softer verse sections to the more bombastic chorus segments, dynamics have been put to great use, ensuring that the texture of the piece is wholly varied, resulting in a far greater impact when required. It's also worth mentioning that the performances are excellent, everyone really brings their A-game to the table and helps bring the tracks many diverse ideas to life with great attention to detail and unbridled conviction.
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of indie and alternative rock will find a lot to enjoy with "Sedona" and is definitely on the higher end of the more nuanced aspects of the genre
Artist target suggestions: Foo Fighters, Bloc Party, Staind, Vertical Horizon, Incubus, The Calling, Hoobastank, Matchbox Twenty, Hinder, Creed, Nirvana, Kasabian, Puddle Of Mudd, Radiohead, 3 Doors Down
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About the Reviewer:
Andre Avanessian is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording