New Giant........UGH!

[S2M]

He began his career as part of the original Christian rock band White Heart in which he played with his brother David Huff, and later in the melodic rock band Giant. Since then, he has found work as a session guitarist and producer, in both rock and country music. He has played guitar on albums for Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, Suzy Bogguss, Kathy Mattea, Faith Hill, Roger Hodgson, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Steven Curtis Chapman, Lonestar, George Benson[2], Whitney Houston's debut album Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand[3], Kenny Rogers[4] and more.

and much more.....

http://www.heavyharmonies.com/cgi-bin/find2.cgi?Input=Dann+Huff

[kgdjpubs]

I want to address this "heart and soul of Giant" thing about Dann.

Dann was the singer, Dann was the (amazing) lead guitarist, Dann was also NOT the "main" writer in the band...he was one of many CO-writers.

Looking at LoTR, TtB, and III there are lots of names other than Huff...3 have no Huff at all listed as writing....here's the list:

I submit that the music on all 3 Giant albums was written by a combination of NINE different people...doesn't exactly paint Dann Huff as THE mastermind of the Giant sound, does it?

True. And you could say also that Dann didn't produce the albums (at least not the first one if I remember correctly, not sure about the 2nd one). Still, there's too much of "Giant" missing to call it "Giant".

and that, for me, is the key point. If it sounds like Giant with a different singer, then call it Giant. I just don't hear ANY Giant in the song. I think that's why people are in an uproar.

Reminds me a lot of the Steve Augeri-fronted Tyketto Shine record. They called it a new band. The record label made them use Tyketto.

For me the most important part is the vocals. Dann is one of those singers which I believe when he sings the lyrics. Same with Perry, Lukather (on the ballads) and Don Henley for instance. AND, also with Terry Brock in Strangeways. If this is indeed Brock he does a poor job at convincing me to believe the lyrics.

with the melody, there isn't much to work with, but I see your point.

There were a few key things in Giant which I need to hear in order to call it Giant:

- Amazing production

with the budget that is probably available for this kind of release, I think that is out of the window. No money available for a major studio production job.

I don't even recognize David Huff's drums in this song. If someone would have told me it was a new band, named "xxxxx" I would have believed it, since NOTHING is recognizable as Giant.

To my ears that is. I just hope this song was a rough low quality mp3 mix of a work in progress and that the album will blow me away.

I'm hoping to be impressed also, but I'm getting to the point of just expecting a new band, and throwing the Giant expectations out the window.

[MichaelRiesenbeck]

He began his career as part of the original Christian rock band White Heart in which he played with his brother David Huff, and later in the melodic rock band Giant. Since then, he has found work as a session guitarist and producer, in both rock and country music. He has played guitar on albums for Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, Suzy Bogguss, Kathy Mattea, Faith Hill, Roger Hodgson, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Steven Curtis Chapman, Lonestar, George Benson[2], Whitney Houston's debut album Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand[3], Kenny Rogers[4] and more.

Your point being?

[kgdjpubs]

It doesn't get any better than this, although the acoustic version is better:

Stay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2sMWL_1Umw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFvEcFKzT4&feature=fvw


And THAT, my friends is what is missing on the new stuff.....

yes, Giant.


The acoustic version is a bit better, but the song is great in electric format also. The Time to Burn album was killer.

[Pelata]

I just hope this song was a rough low quality mp3 mix of a work in progress and that the album will blow me away.

I'm kinda hoping that too...

[MichaelRiesenbeck]

I'm hoping to be impressed also, but I'm getting to the point of just expecting a new band, and throwing the Giant expectations out the window.

Here's something I posted onto the Noticeboard. I hope Frontiers does something with this. I first respond to Tommy Denander who was honest and critical in his first reaction to this clip and then backed down.

"Come on Tommy, show some balls. Or rather, keep showing them

You gave your first (and I believe honest) response from the heart. I felt the dissapointment you must have felt when listening to this clip, as I was extremely dissapointed too (I listened to all 3 Giant albums to get me in the mood before firing up this clip).

I think that it's becoming clear for all to see that Frontiers made a mistake by trying to mystify this new line-up, since it heavily backfired. That's a risk you take. They took it and need to deal with that.

It's saying a lot that as far as I've seen, no-one from Frontiers responded to any of the threads. I feel they'd better change their flightplan to correct this.

So, just release an honest press release with the names of the new guys on guitar, vox (and possibly keys). Add a photo with their faces on them and release more sound clips soon. They apparantly believe in this album, so it's time for them to show some balls too and just fire up some extra mp3's of these (hopefully) amazing songs. Or, could it be that it is still a work in progress and they're still recording it? Then do something with the stuff said here, so get a great producer in and have Brock (if it's him) (re)sing these songs with the soul and edge we know from him on the Strangeways albums. And have the guitarist lay down more layers, or get Dann to do that (he should be ready with that in one afternoon )."

[MichaelRiesenbeck]

It doesn't get any better than this, although the acoustic version is better:

Stay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2sMWL_1Umw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFvEcFKzT4&feature=fvw


And THAT, my friends is what is missing on the new stuff.....

yes, Giant.


The acoustic version is a bit better, but the song is great in electric format also. The Time to Burn album was killer.

I like the electric version overall, because of the drive, but I like the backing vocals on the Acoustic version better.

Prefer Last of the Runaways overall.

[kgdjpubs]

I'm hoping to be impressed also, but I'm getting to the point of just expecting a new band, and throwing the Giant expectations out the window.

Here's something I posted onto the Noticeboard. I hope Frontiers does something with this. I first respond to Tommy Denander who was honest and critical in his first reaction to this clip and then backed down.

"Come on Tommy, show some balls. Or rather, keep showing them

You gave your first (and I believe honest) response from the heart. I felt the dissapointment you must have felt when listening to this clip, as I was extremely dissapointed too (I listened to all 3 Giant albums to get me in the mood before firing up this clip).

I think that it's becoming clear for all to see that Frontiers made a mistake by trying to mystify this new line-up, since it heavily backfired. That's a risk you take. They took it and need to deal with that.

It's saying a lot that as far as I've seen, no-one from Frontiers responded to any of the threads. I feel they'd better change their flightplan to correct this.

So, just release an honest press release with the names of the new guys on guitar, vox (and possibly keys). Add a photo with their faces on them and release more sound clips soon. They apparantly believe in this album, so it's time for them to show some balls too and just fire up some extra mp3's of these (hopefully) amazing songs. Or, could it be that it is still a work in progress and they're still recording it? Then do something with the stuff said here, so get a great producer in and have Brock (if it's him) (re)sing these songs with the soul and edge we know from him on the Strangeways albums. And have the guitarist lay down more layers, or get Dann to do that (he should be ready with that in one afternoon )."

Yes, I think the "hiding the band members" strategy has backfired miserably also. Use a song (if there is one) that sounds like the Giant people know, and I doubt there would be a problem. As it stands right now, it just stinks of a cash-in using the name.

I'm very surprised they haven't come clean and announced the lineup and what (if any) involvement that Dann Huff has on the new album.

If it's Terry Brock on vocals (which I'm pretty certain it is), he's got enough of a fanbase that people would be willing to get it a chance. The cloak and dagger stuff just isn't working at all, and I'm sure Frontiers Records is in major damage control at the moment--but they are strangely silent on the whole thing. The longer they let it drag on, the worse it gets. They need to do something--and FAST. This scene is small enough as is, and having the mess play out on the biggest site devoted to melodic rock (where 90% of the people that would hear this will go) isn't helping.

I haven't seen a backlash like this against a cd since maybe the Lovemetal (with very out-of-tune lead vocals by Ted Poley) debut cd, or the very modernized House of Lords Power & Myth cd.

VERY strange to see Frontiers silent on this as the battle rages on--and sees no signs of slowing down.

[S2M]

Some circles think it is either Brock, Tamplin, or Spiro on Vox....

Me, I can't tell.

[MichaelRiesenbeck]

Yes, I think the "hiding the band members" strategy has backfired miserably also. Use a song (if there is one) that sounds like the Giant people know, and I doubt there would be a problem. As it stands right now, it just stinks of a cash-in using the name.

I'm very surprised they haven't come clean and announced the lineup and what (if any) involvement that Dann Huff has on the new album.

If it's Terry Brock on vocals (which I'm pretty certain it is), he's got enough of a fanbase that people would be willing to get it a chance. The cloak and dagger stuff just isn't working at all, and I'm sure Frontiers Records is in major damage control at the moment--but they are strangely silent on the whole thing. The longer they let it drag on, the worse it gets. They need to do something--and FAST. This scene is small enough as is, and having the mess play out on the biggest site devoted to melodic rock (where 90% of the people that would hear this will go) isn't helping.

I haven't seen a backlash like this against a cd since maybe the Lovemetal (with very out-of-tune lead vocals by Ted Poley) debut cd, or the very modernized House of Lords Power & Myth cd.

VERY strange to see Frontiers silent on this as the battle rages on--and sees no signs of slowing down.

True words.

Poley got through ok, everyone seems to love his stuff nowadays, so there's a way to turn it around, staying silent isn't the solution.

[kgdjpubs]

It doesn't get any better than this, although the acoustic version is better:

Stay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFvEcFKzT4&feature=fvw


And THAT, my friends is what is missing on the new stuff.....

ahh, the acoustic version...for anyone wondering
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8smf2ZEwBA

[S2M]

Poley only got through it because he is back with D2. His other projects were met with less than warm acceptance:

Melodica
Poley/Pichler
Bone Machine
Pleasure Dome

[MichaelRiesenbeck]

Some circles think it is either Brock, Tamplin, or Spiro on Vox....

Me, I can't tell.

Not Tamplin, even if he would be holding back he wouldn't sound like the singer on the clip.

Spiro I find to not be a very strong singer and sounds too different to my ears. Brock sounds most close but I try to imagine him singing Goodnight L.A. while holding back even more, maybe having a joint first to be reallllly mellow and then sing it. It does have his tone, but it's really heard to determine. BUT, he did a vocal change between the first and 2nd Strangeways album too (from Perry-soundalike to more of his own roughness), so he is good at modifying his voice.

[kgdjpubs]

Some circles think it is either Brock, Tamplin, or Spiro on Vox....

Me, I can't tell.

unless Spiro has gotten a LOT less raspy, I can't see it possibly being him on the song--even though he was the original singer for the band.

As far as Ken Tamplin, listening to one quick song of his off Youtube, there is a good similarity in his voice to Dann Huff. He'd be a very good choice, but I don't hear him in that clip.

Terry Brock has (either intentionally or otherwise), lost a lot of the rasp he had with Strangeways. The Slamer album shows this. It's hard to hear him, but that tone sticks out.
Here's something he did recently for the Voices of Rock that's a bit lower-pitched http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-lUKccCWN4

I guess we'll find out soon enough....maybe.

[kgdjpubs]

Some circles think it is either Brock, Tamplin, or Spiro on Vox....

Me, I can't tell.

Not Tamplin, even if he would be holding back he wouldn't sound like the singer on the clip.

Spiro I find to not be a very strong singer and sounds too different to my ears. Brock sounds most close but I try to imagine him singing Goodnight L.A. while holding back even more, maybe having a joint first to be reallllly mellow and then sing it. It does have his tone, but it's really heard to determine. BUT, he did a vocal change between the first and 2nd Strangeways album too (from Perry-soundalike to more of his own roughness), so he is good at modifying his voice.

listen to the song I posted.....that's Brock's lower register for the verse. MUCH different than the Goodnight LA vox.

[S2M]

Some circles think it is either Brock, Tamplin, or Spiro on Vox....

Me, I can't tell.

unless Spiro has gotten a LOT less raspy, I can't see it possibly being him on the song--even though he was the original singer for the band.

As far as Ken Tamplin, listening to one quick song of his off Youtube, there is a good similarity in his voice to Dann Huff. He'd be a very good choice, but I don't hear him in that clip.

Terry Brock has (either intentionally or otherwise), lost a lot of the rasp he had with Strangeways. The Slamer album shows this. It's hard to hear him, but that tone sticks out.
Here's something he did recently for the Voices of Rock that's a bit lower-pitched http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-lUKccCWN4

I guess we'll find out soon enough....maybe.

Ronnie Atkins from Pretty Maids sings with TWo distinctly different voices.....perhaps Mark is just singing with a toned down voice?

[kgdjpubs]

Some circles think it is either Brock, Tamplin, or Spiro on Vox....

Me, I can't tell.

unless Spiro has gotten a LOT less raspy, I can't see it possibly being him on the song--even though he was the original singer for the band.

As far as Ken Tamplin, listening to one quick song of his off Youtube, there is a good similarity in his voice to Dann Huff. He'd be a very good choice, but I don't hear him in that clip.

Terry Brock has (either intentionally or otherwise), lost a lot of the rasp he had with Strangeways. The Slamer album shows this. It's hard to hear him, but that tone sticks out.
Here's something he did recently for the Voices of Rock that's a bit lower-pitched http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-lUKccCWN4

I guess we'll find out soon enough....maybe.

Ronnie Atkins from Pretty Maids sings with TWo distinctly different voices.....perhaps Mark is just singing with a toned down voice?

I could see it....but the TONE is different, and that's extremely difficult, it not downright impossible to change. That's how it's VERY easy to tell the difference between Perry, Augeri, Chalfant, Hugo, Arnel, etc. You can have 2 singers hitting the same note, but the vocal tone will differentiate one from another.

It's VERY hard to make an ID from that clip, but I just don't hear Spiro on it.

[MichaelRiesenbeck]

Some circles think it is either Brock, Tamplin, or Spiro on Vox....

Me, I can't tell.

Not Tamplin, even if he would be holding back he wouldn't sound like the singer on the clip.

Spiro I find to not be a very strong singer and sounds too different to my ears. Brock sounds most close but I try to imagine him singing Goodnight L.A. while holding back even more, maybe having a joint first to be reallllly mellow and then sing it. It does have his tone, but it's really heard to determine. BUT, he did a vocal change between the first and 2nd Strangeways album too (from Perry-soundalike to more of his own roughness), so he is good at modifying his voice.

listen to the song I posted.....that's Brock's lower register for the verse. MUCH different than the Goodnight LA vox.

Now there's an eye opener. The verse even has that theatric (sp?)/musical feel in the melody that the Giant clip also has. And the sound is rather similar, indeed.

Unless they've chosen a really unknown guy, it must be him. Just hope he lost that ridiculous cowboy hat and sunglasses.

[kgdjpubs]

listen to the song I posted.....that's Brock's lower register for the verse. MUCH different than the Goodnight LA vox.

Now there's an eye opener. The verse even has that theatric (sp?)/musical feel in the melody that the Giant clip also has. And the sound is rather similar, indeed.

Unless they've chosen a really unknown guy, it must be him. Just hope he lost that ridiculous cowboy hat and sunglasses.

Here's another one, from his solo album circa 2001 where the verse is lower and the chorus rises. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp0TCuYT_Ro
If all you'd heard was Strangeways, I could totally understand the utter confusion at thinking it could even be him on the Giant clip.

as far as the cowboy hat/sunglasses, maybe that's his trademark like Dave Bickler's beret! haha...

[S2M]

I'm going on record RIGHT now saying it is MARK SPIRO.

That clip is almost identical to Mark's song, 'Back to the Promised Land', off of his solo album, 'The Stuff that Dreams are Made of'

take a listen......

http://www.heavyharmonies.com/cgi-bin/glamcd.cgi?BandNum=1436&CDName=The+Stuff+That+Dreams+Are+Made+Of

[kgdjpubs]

I'm going on record RIGHT now saying it is MARK SPIRO.

That clip is almost identical to Mark's song, 'Back to the Promised Land', off of his solo album, 'The Stuff that Dreams are Made of'

take a listen......

http://www.heavyharmonies.com/cgi-bin/glamcd.cgi?BandNum=1436&CDName=The+Stuff+That+Dreams+Are+Made+Of

Good find. I was going to give it to you, but listening to the lines back to back, I still think it's Terry Brock on the new version. The vocals are VERY close though.

Still begs the question...why use that song? Without having the album, maybe it was an unused Giant song, but why not just write new material? It's not like the song was mind-blowing the first time it was used, and it isn't getting any better with age.

[MichaelRiesenbeck]

I'm going on record RIGHT now saying it is MARK SPIRO.

That clip is almost identical to Mark's song, 'Back to the Promised Land', off of his solo album, 'The Stuff that Dreams are Made of'

take a listen......

http://www.heavyharmonies.com/cgi-bin/glamcd.cgi?BandNum=1436&CDName=The+Stuff+That+Dreams+Are+Made+Of

Pretty convincing, but I don't think it's Spiro.

I've loaded both mp3's into my recording program and listened part by part. It's sung differently in places. These phrases show the real colors of the singer and they differ too much. I can't believe Spiro would
sing it differently in details, especially since he wrote the song. Also, Spiro has a lighter sound, even when he gets more rough. The roughness I hear is the same as Brock displays in the YT live clips of that one Strangeways concert in Germany. So I think he's in emulation mode.

What is very apparent is that the production of that Spiro version is so much better and that was years ago.

Besides, what would be the point in having the rejected singer singing rejected songs so many years later?

[kgdjpubs]

Pretty convincing, but I don't think it's Spiro.

I've loaded both mp3's into my recording program and listened part by part. It's sung differently in places. These phrases show the real colors of the singer and they differ too much. I can't believe Spiro would
sing it differently in details, especially since he wrote the song. Also, Spiro has a lighter sound, even when he gets more rough. The roughness I hear is the same as Brock displays in the YT live clips of that one Strangeways concert in Germany. So I think he's in emulation mode.

here's something you might like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StEUjjlt ... re=related

Terry Brock performing with Valentine (aka Hugo) in Belgium in August. Shows the majority of Strangeway's Love Lies Dying, then Forever Again, which he did with The Sign in the late 90s. You get to hear both the low and high range.

If it really is him on the Giant clips (which I still think it is), I'm surprised he didn't change the melody more. He's definitely sticking very close to the demo, which I think we can all agree was Spiro

[Pelata]

It's definitely NOT Ken Tamplin in that clip...I'm a Shout/Ken Tamplin fan from way back...

[Rip Rokken]

can someone post a link or something ?

right on the front page, but here's the link to the song
http://www.melodicrock.com/audio/Giant2009.mp3

Giant?!? I can't believe everyone's falling for this hoax. I'd recognize G.I Jim and Alex anywhere!

[Glenn]

It's definitely NOT Ken Tamplin in that clip...I'm a Shout/Ken Tamplin fan from way back...

ditto...

In Your Face was always mt favorite Shout tune.

[majik]

I doubt that its Spiro or Brock on vocals, most likely its drummer David Huff has stepped up from backing to lead vocals.

[G.I.Jim]

Okay, I've let this go on long enough... it's ME! I'M Giant's new singer. I didn't want them to show a picture of my face because they took a funky picture that didn't highlight my eyes. They decided to just show my lower half. Sorry for all the confusion guys...

[kgdjpubs]

Okay, I've let this go on long enough... it's ME! I'M Giant's new singer. I didn't want them to show a picture of my face because they took a funky picture that didn't highlight my eyes. They decided to just show my lower half. Sorry for all the confusion guys...

oh, so now you're taking credit from the so-called "soul-less vocals"?!? Mighty brave of ya. Now, we at least know where to pinpoint the anger!

[majik]

Haha! G.I. those cheesey vocals are nothing to brag about dude, don't give up your day job.