Angeline: Disconnected

After a twenty year build up, which included triumph and tragedy, to their debut album proper Confessions in 2010, Sweden's Angeline make a quick-fire and welcome return with album number two Disconnected. A bouncy and up-tempo Melodic Rock album, Confessions contained little influences from the likes of Glenn Hughes and to some extent Jeff Scott Soto to punctuate the more overt Def Leppardisms that Angeline favour. Disconnected however eschews these other little nuances, to basically end up with an album that could sit squarely between Def Leppard's last two studio albums X and Songs From The Sparkle Lounge. Whether that prospect excites you or not will be the deciding factor in your appreciation for this newest album from Angeline. Personally I think X was a step back into form from the Leps and SFTSL confirmed that hot streak, so while I might not applaud Angeline for their originality, I certainly get a kick from their smooth, slick, hook laden, and shiny, glistening choruses.

Now getting through the rest of this review without mentioning Leppards, Sheffield, or indeed Joe Elliot (although to be fair Jocke Nilsson is a far better actual singer) is going to be a challenge, but it is fair to suggest that the twin riffing guitars, stinging solos and ultra catchy motifs are of high standard, even if they are ever so slightly second hand. That doesn't make them bad, but I do find it a distraction when I found myself adding the "Yeah's!" and "Hey's!" that I expected to hear, based on how similar some of the ideas in this album are to others I've heard. That didn't stop me from finding the likes of "Disconnected", "Run Run Run" or "Falling Into You" from being tight, sharp, guitar led Melodic Rock with bite and tenacity and neither does it stop "Take A Little Time" or "In Times Like These" from being classy, convincing, mid paced tear-jerkers.

Angeline are extremely good at what they do, creating songs with bags of melody and choruses with cross over hit potential. They may be a little over familiar and reliant on one source for their ideas, however that doesn't stop Disconnected being an easy and rewarding album to make an instant and lasting connection with.

Track Listing
1. When The Lights Go Down
2. Falling Into You
3. Take A Little Time
4. I Had Enough
5. Run Run Run
6. Found
7. Disconnected
8. In Times Like These
9. Solid Ground
10. If It's The Last Thing I Do
11. First Time Around
12. Way Down

Added: December 15th 2011
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Angeline Official web Site
Hits: 3022
Language: english

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