SO THIS IT FOLKS! I finally got around to translating my first solo album review from ROCKTIMES! ROCKTIMES Author: Steve Braun - In Swabia (south-west part of Germany), the young german-american Dave Schaefer is known as the front man of Oxford Circus, who somehow resembles the son of Uncle Teddy (Ted Nugent) from Motor City. Until recently he’s been globetrotting between New York and Stuttgart, and has also started a solo career. For his first album, Sea of Dreams”, titled under his own name, he has joined forces with four extremely talented students from the prestigious Mannheim Pop Academy, who also perform with famous German Bands such as Dicke Kinder and Glasperlenspiel. [ a small correction of facts – the musicians that perform with these well known acts and that I recorded with weren’t students of the Pop Academy. My tour band although are students of MPA.] The results (of the album) are impressive - also in terms of its diversity. Southern Rock with a certain proximity to country, blues and funk. Dave Schaefer refers to his style as Southern RocknSoul Chill Metal. I wouldn’t consider his style as pure Southern Rock but as always that’s just a matter of opinion. But fact is that Breaking The Rules, on Sea Of Dreams, a killer song is that at the start wades in a knee deep swamp before it discharges into an uptempo rocker. Awesome Song! Otherwise, I would simply define Sea Of Dreams as Classic American Rock Music` -sometimes hard – sometimes melodic. Occasionally, a touch of Jon Bon Jovi stadium rock peaks around the corner. And when periodically the awaited touch of soul creeps in like with the deep, dark and creamy (“Baby Craze”) then one can only wish for an abundance of airplay, and not only in the German-Swabian corner of the world. Schaefers own compositions are all well compiled and very catchy arrangements and in addition to this produced by himself. In this regard, there is nothing more to be desired – this in turn has international format! Also the optics, with its noble CD case and phat booklet, no more wishes are left unfulfilled. Besides the above-mentioned titles, one can also expect a very special heavy transition (which yesterday splendidly survived the “highway test”). First of all with the hot n’ funky Life Is A Vacation with its broad-based guitar riffs and the shimmering Hammond organ and the soulful heartbreaker Scare The Ghosts Away, both extremely radio compatible. The laid-back ballad Soul Estate has become my secret hit alongside Breaking The Rules. But also the harder, more melodic-metallic pace is dominated by Schaefer as the Adrenaline Junkie confesses in I Am Narcotic or the driving neck-breaking force of Till We Meet Again proves. Of course, an album from this corner of rock music is often questioned for its innovation, which annoys the hell out of me. My position remains unchanged – rather something classic and really good than “bent out of hell” something new. Sea Of Dreams delivers well-arranged entertainment and is filled with lots of fun - no more, but also guaranteed no less! Keep Rockin’, Dave Schaefer. Line-up: Dave Schaefer (vocals) Nico Schliemann (guitars) Toby Kopietz (keyboards) Benni Jud (bass) Bene Neuner (drums) rocktimes.de/gesamt/s/dave_schaefer/sea_of_dreams.html
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:05:09 +0000