Red32: Red32

Reviewers have an obligation to give albums a fair shot before stating their opinions, of course. This may be particularly true for albums that they either love or hate at first. Sometimes, upon repeated listening, you will find some flaws in the case of the former and some things to like in the case of the latter.

I have given RED32’s self-titled debut album many tries and my opinion remains the same: I really don’t like it. They describe themselves as “the Space Age Steely Dan.� To me, they sound more like a poor-man’s U2 with a little Muse thrown in for good measure.

A self-styled “crossover progressive pop rock band based throughout the United States,� the group consists of Anthony Romero from Oregon on keys, spoken word passages, and backing vocals; Steve Bonino from California on vocals, bass, keys, and drum programming; Robert Schindler from North Carolina on keys; and Eric Confer from New Mexico on guitar.

I hear a lot of pop but very little that is progressive in their music. Bonino seems to do his best to sound like … Bono. The songs are conventionally structured. And the drum programming does the music no favors, though it doesn’t distract as much as it might.

Everyone has their own musical tastes. Some may like the album. I have to say that it occasionally has some good pop hooks. But I just can’t see many readers of the site finding much of interest in it.

Track Listing
1. Burn into the Sun (4:53)
2. Evil Never Sleeps (5:38)
3. A Place to Call Home (5:05)
4. Light Bearing Creatures (4:16)
5. Flow (6:17)
6. The Very First Band in Space (5:36)
7. Mean (4:06)
8. Slow Burn (5:13)
9. Space Rider (3:42)
10. Tribute (2:02)

Added: March 6th 2024
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 510
Language: english

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