While many of today's rock bands insist on being over the top and ironic, Red Wanting Blue is a refreshing dose of down-to-earth honesty. On their new album These Magnificent Miles, the group has mixed solid, hard rock with a sound that has long since passed from modern music.
Formed over a decade ago, this Columbus five-piece maintains a style reminiscent of '90s alternative-rock acts Our Lady Peace and the Goo Goo Dolls. Now on their eighth independent album, the group has an impressively high quality sound.These Magnificent Miles is a studio-polished gem of emotion-driven music. The commanding voice of Scott Terry, the band's singer, carries each song in a tone very similar to Scott Stapp of Creed. The guitars shimmer in the background of each track, following the direction of Terry's voice. Beneath the mix, solid bass lines and foot stomping percussion help to keep the music lively.-
a quasi-political track about the place that makes the great mistakes. Yet the most endearing song on the album comes as a hidden track a minute after their last song ends. Over a soft, strumming guitar, Terry's subdued voice hints at an overall weariness. Although sentimental, his lyrics are surprisingly earnest.
This album sounds like it could have been recorded live, not because of subpar quality, but because hearing it is like standing in the front row at a concert. The catchy chorus lines inspire sing-alongs, and one can almost hear the applause after each song's crescendo. The fact that this band has been touring for as long as they have lets on that they've figured out how to invoke this experience through their music. - 17
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Aaron Krumheuer
