Christopher Ames Band - Forever 21
Rock, Classic Rock, 90s Rock
New York, United States/span>
Overall Impression: Having had the great fortune of reviewing the equally dazzling "Dancing With Ghosts" by The Christopher Ames Band, I'll be honest and say that I was most definitely eager to dive into this new offering, and I'm glad to report that my high expectations were not only met, but resoundingly exceeded. "Forever 21" is as electrifying as I had hoped it to be, the riff work is phenomenal, the lead playing is as tasteful as it gets, and as I've come to now expect from Christopher Ames and his fellow musical cohorts, both the writing and sheer musicianship on display is both awe inspiring and deeply accomplished. "Forever 21" serves as a great mix of rock styles, and whilst you could say its sound is heavily rooted in classic rock, the generous dashes of alternative inspired elements that course their way throughout allows for an interesting blend of musical flavours to be achieved, allowing Christopher and co to explore a number of interesting stylistic expressions that keep the arrangement sounding continually fresh and exciting from start to finish.
Strongest Point(s): This is a Christopher Ames tune, where do we begin?! Alongside the exceptional performances and deft production that ensures each and every minute detail in the arrangement is effectively captured and conveyed to the listener, the attention given to the way in which the music flows is always a strong pillar in Christopher's music, this could be the way the rhythm guitars effortlessly ebb and flow between moments of driving palm muted chordal work and more open sounding arpeggiated sections, or the fantastical dashes of melody-driven lead guitar work that excitingly pop up throughout, there's a refreshing dynamism to the writing that listeners can really feel. Undeniably catchy, steeped in personality, and unequivocally well put-together, "Forever 21" is a great piece of writing that many a listener can enjoy and appreciate.
Target Audience Appeal: There's a great blend of classic and alternative rock styles on display here and I can certainly see a broad range of rock lovers being able to appreciate what "Forever 21" has to offer.
Artist target suggestions: The Main Squeeze, Ripe, Bahamas, More Fatter, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Steve Miller Band, Neil Young, Matchbox Twenty, Jungle, ALO, Parcels, Maddison Cunningham, Tame Impala, Rachel Mazzer, Genuine Panama, Weezer, Counting Crows, Franc Moody
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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.