The 88.5 Big Money Shot is a platform to give new, up and coming artists a chance to leave the basement behind and try out life on the main stage. 2010 finalists, The Balconies have left the minors behind for good with the upcoming release of their first full-length album, Fast Motions, due to come out today. The Ottawa born trio, comprised of Jacquie Neville (guitar and lead vocals), her good friend Liam Jaeger (drums) and little brother Stephen Neville (bass, vocals) will come home – fresh off a European tour- to play a highly anticipated show at Ritual on February 7th.
There are a lot of really strong influences at play in the album – sometimes to the detriment of the originality and uniqueness of The Balconies, with echoes of Metallica, Our Lady Peace (not surprising because the album was recorded and produced by Arnold Lanni) and even, oddly enough, Pink. The songs are catchy and there is a definite, driving rock vibe running throughout the LP, a hipster version of Joan Jett comes to mind when listening to Boys and Girls. The album has a strong 80s pop/rock feel, highlighted by the first single released in late 2013, The Slo song. The album ends with Let Me Go, an ambient song with ethereal vocals that clearly demonstrates the band’s classical background.
Over all, the album isn’t bad for the group’s first full-length LP. For those of you who wish you’d been around to enjoy 80s hair rock first hand, this is the closest you can come without a time machine. Jacquie’s voice is strong and haunting but the lyrics she sings lack depth. If it were a scotch it would be Johnny Walker Red; a good choice for a night of drinking but not something you want to sip while sitting by the fire. And, like Johnny Walker Red, the album gets better as the night goes on.
The Balconies play Ritual on February 7, 2014. For tickets, click here. Doors open at 9pm. Watch the video for the lead single, The Slo, here:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPVgBjDpzcs[/youtube]
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