Female Rock: 2005 In Review

[Jonny B]

The 2005 Field

Erika "In the Arms of A Stranger" (Reissue)
Lucid Fly "Adapting To Gravity" (Indie Artist)
Lana Lane "Lady Macbeth"
Leaves' Eyes "Vinland Saga"
Envy "Ain't It A Sin" (Reissue)
Private Life "Shadows / S/T" (2CD Reissue)
Robin Beck "Do You Miss Me"
Broke N Blue "The Waiting"
Laos "We Want It" (Reissue)
Aina "Living In A Boy's World" (Reissue)
Lullacry "Vol. 4"
After Forever "Remagine"
Stream of Passion "Embrace the Storm" (newcomer)
Within Temptation "The Silent Force Tour" (DVD)

Several reissues, one newcomer, some disappointments, and a badly overlooked AOR gem. Here's a summary of 2005 for female rock.

First, The New Originals.

Lucid Fly "Adapting To Gravity"
Description: Decent For An Indie Artist.
I've posted everywhere on the melrock boards, but I don't think I generated any extra sales for this new and upcoming female-fronted Florida band. Obviously, most indie artists don't have impressive music, after all, they're just starting out. But Nikki Layne has an impressive set of lungs. Check it out, at least once.

Lana Lane "Lady Macbeth"
Description: Concept Boredom
I've grown tired of the 'concept album.' There've been just too many in the past few years. There are decent tracks, but a lot of forgettable ones. Please, Lana, PLEASE deliver another "Garden of the Moon!"

Leaves' Eyes "Vinland Saga"
Description: Expected
I'm only a casual fan of the traditional gothic sound. Leaves' Eyes have it mastered to a tee. There are no standout tracks, nor bad ones, give-to-take the occassional growler track.

Lullacry "Vol. 4"
Description: ???
I'm still waiting for a copy. But from what I've heard from some fans, they've stuck to their simple hard rock roots. Who was the idiot who labeled them a goth band anyway?

Stream of Passion "Embrace the Storm"
Description: Disappointing Newcomer
I've always liked Arjen Lucassen's projects. He always some great keyboardists that made the music interesting. But in this one, which had some hype of being the equivilent of an Ambeon followup, came up short. The problem: No Synthesizers. It's still amazing how some people will hate keyboards, then when they are removed, they wonder why something's missing. Though real instruments were used in the place, you can tell that the lack of synth samples badly hurt this release.

Robin Beck "Do You Miss Me"
Description: Melodic Rock Product.
Question. Has Mrs. James Christian ever written a decent song herself, or has she always been the singer that sings other people's songs? Like with pop singers in today's major label industry, I feel that Robin Beck is a product of the melodic rock industry. That is why I labeled her as a 'product.' Don't get me wrong, I do like the songs she sings on this one. However, I feel that this one was a bit overhyped. What made me very disappointed, was they had to auto-tune some of her vocals. (since when has she become Cher-esk with the loss of vocal range?) Luckly, 2005 was a small field for female rock, so Robin Beck, by default, takes 3rd Best Female Album of 2005.

After Forever "Remagine"
Description: Vastly Improved
Can you believe that fans and critics called this one an 'experimental album?' Here, they dropped the growler tracks to 4, and they picked up a keyboardist that's not afraid to play! Ironically, the keyboardist had played in many of Arjen Lucassen's projects (I bet he badly misses him too. Refer to my Stream of Passion note.) I feel that After Forever is going in the right direction with their music (finally!) But one thing still bugs my mind? The male singer can sing clean, and sing it well. Why does he feel the need to growl? The day he sings clean 100% of the time is the time this band breaks out into the mainstream. Despite the sharpie-proof, hacker-friendly copy protection on the disc, After Forever take my 2nd Best Female Album of 2005.

Broke N Blue "The Waiting"
Description: Disgustingly Overlooked AOR Gem!
When I need a kickass AOR album, I need look no further than to Sweden, whom seem to assemble more female-fronted non-goth bands than any other country. I feel really bad for this band, whose album was released the same week, under the shadow of the overhyped Robin Beck comeback. I love this album to bits! A clean male/female vocal duo, strongly driven by keyboards (as all great AOR albums should be) that impresses big time. How strongly do I feel about Broke N Blue?

Well, here's how I feel.
1.) If you overlooked this album and/or succumbed to the Robin Beck hype, you owe the band an apology, and should pick up "The Waiting" right away.
2.) If you reviewed both Robin Beck & Broke N Blue, but gave this band the lower score, you owe yourself a swift kick in the rear.
3.) If you've heard this album, and it's not in your Top 3 AOR albums of 2005, you're not a true die-hard AOR fan, and should look for another genre of music to listen to.

I feel very very strongly this way regarding Broke N Blue "The Waiting." It disgusts me that an AOR gem this great could be overlooked by everyone. They barely edge out After Forever for my #1 Female Rock Album of 2005.

Best Reissue: Aina "Living In A Boy's World"
This was a tough choice. I like Laos a hell of a lot more, but Aina got the nod just because of the rarety the original went for ($200+ eBay item if you're wondering.) A lost AOR classic with tons of great bonus tracks.

Other Notes:

MTM Music get my record label of the year, both for the awesome Broke N Blue release, as well as three long awaited female reissues: Erika "In the Arms of A Stranger," Laos "We Want It," and Aina "Living In A Boy's World." EXCELLENT WORK!

Sony Music gets my Bonehead of the Year for sharpie-proofing their copy protection, while at the same time making it susceptable to making PC's hacker-vulnerable.

Story of 2005: The firing of Tarja Turanen from Nightwish was sudden news. I kind of expected it, considering how she treated fans at the Worcester show I went to last year. Knowing them though, I'm sure there are thousands of female singer Nightwish fans that would love to take her place.

What I'm Looking Forward To In 2006

Basically copy & paste everything that didn't happen in 2005. New Lunatica, Nexx, Lacuna Coil, and Shiva albums. Maybe After Forever to break through? (why not? They've released an album every year.) But the ones I'm looking forward to the most are the new Within Temptation (they're in the studio now, but will it be ready by the end of the year?) and of course, the long awaited Evanescence second album. Can Amy Lee hold it on her own? If the new one bombs, it will definitely cripple any chance for commericalized gothic metal to break through in the states. (god do we need a change in mainstream music. BADLY!)

Thus concludes Female Rock 2005.

[TageRyche]

Stream of Passion "Embrace the Storm"
Description: Disappointing Newcomer
I've always liked Arjen Lucassen's projects. He always some great keyboardists that made the music interesting. But in this one, which had some hype of being the equivilent of an Ambeon followup, came up short. The problem: No Synthesizers. It's still amazing how some people will hate keyboards, then when they are removed, they wonder why something's missing. Though real instruments were used in the place, you can tell that the lack of synth samples badly hurt this release.

It took a few spins to get into this album, but I did end up liking it.

Robin Beck "Do You Miss Me"
Description: Melodic Rock Product.
Question. Has Mrs. James Christian ever written a decent song herself, or has she always been the singer that sings other people's songs? Like with pop singers in today's major label industry, I feel that Robin Beck is a product of the melodic rock industry. That is why I labeled her as a 'product.' Don't get me wrong, I do like the songs she sings on this one. However, I feel that this one was a bit overhyped. What made me very disappointed, was they had to auto-tune some of her vocals. (since when has she become Cher-esk with the loss of vocal range?) Luckly, 2005 was a small field for female rock, so Robin Beck, by default, takes 3rd Best Female Album of 2005.

I quite enjoyed this album and said so in the review I did. It's the first time I've listened to her so I don't have any of the baggage you might have in regards to her songwriting credits.

Sony Music gets my Bonehead of the Year for sharpie-proofing their copy protection, while at the same time making it susceptable to making PC's hacker-vulnerable.

I think this should be the story of the year as well.

[Jonny B]

Hmmm. Apparently I missed a reissue. Wounded Bird also released Marilyn Martin "S/T." I saw a music video over at a friend's house, and now it has me curious. Sounds like it could be a forgotten AOR monster, I just hope the rest of the album is just as good.

[Taliwakker]

JB wrote

Stream of Passion "Embrace the Storm"
Description: Disappointing Newcomer
I've always liked Arjen Lucassen's projects. He always some great keyboardists that made the music interesting. But in this one, which had some hype of being the equivilent of an Ambeon followup, came up short. The problem: No Synthesizers. It's still amazing how some people will hate keyboards, then when they are removed, they wonder why something's missing. Though real instruments were used in the place, you can tell that the lack of synth samples badly hurt this release

You are talking out of your ass JB....the lack of synth makes no difference
I also think its quite different to Ambeon and is in no way a follow up of any sort.
Its by far the best female fronted cd of the year...blowing away After Forever...the only other one i liked this year was Elfonia-Sonic Landscape (which is Marcela Bovia's main band).
I got the Within Temptation dvd for X-mas and its pretty good...too much backing tape stuff going on though....i know they need it for the Silent Force stuff...but still kills the live vibe too much.

[jrnyman28]

Lullacry "Vol. 4"
Description: ???
I'm still waiting for a copy. But from what I've heard from some fans, they've stuck to their simple hard rock roots. Who was the idiot who labeled them a goth band anyway?

Hard to believe the CD could be released in September 2005 on Spinefarm, yet not get a release in the US until January 24th, 2006!!

**Editted. I misread the date, forgetting that the Eurpean date has the day first. I thought it said July. A MUCH bigger difference!**

But the ones I'm looking forward to the most are the new Within Temptation (they're in the studio now, but will it be ready by the end of the year?) and of course, the long awaited Evanescence second album. Can Amy Lee hold it on her own? If the new one bombs, it will definitely cripple any chance for commericalized gothic metal to break through in the states. (god do we need a change in mainstream music. BADLY!)

I enjoy Within Temptation, but haven't really "gotten into them" yet. It seems like the singer's voice is a little thin. But I haven't listened to much of the CDs more than once. I must revisit them!

As for Evanescence, I am very excited anticipating this release. Too bad it appears to have been pushed back AGAIN! But I doubt you will see any "commercialized gothic metal breakthrough". It has been TOO long sincer Ev's last CD. The minor uprising has dissipated again. I think Ev is the only reason Nightwish/Lullacry were able to get any notice in the States....and I am kicking myself for missing that show! I love Lullacry!

Thus concludes Female Rock 2005.

Heck of a post!! Good Job.