You don't know what you don't know has been brought home to me over the past 18 months or so as IDHAS accidentally added a new younger following to the mix. This has opened my eyes to delights by bands I have never heard before allowing our musical coverage to widen.
So I am used to surprises, but not so much from our established world. In that sphere, if I've not heard a band. I am aware of them. Then you get a complete surprise from that area. Welcome to the New York quartet that is Mighty Dan Gerous.
John Macom has been a long time supporter and follower of I Don't Hear A Single, ultra supportive and generous in his praise. I had no idea that John was the Guitarist in this band, indeed I know little of the band itself. So when he passed the album to me, I was always going to listen to it properly.
You know the reservations that you can have when someone you like passes you his album. What do I say if I don't like it etc and we are quite strict with what we cover? People know of my Big Stir connection, but that doesn't ensure a review and if I'm strict with them, I'm gonna be strict with everyone.
Well this is great Melodic Guitar led Pop Rock. Not only does Macom play Guitar and Keyboards, but he also co-writes and Produces the album with vocalist Joseph Titone and Titone has a fine set of pipes, ideal for this type of material.
The two opening songs are ringers for Cheap Trick, indeed the whole album has a feel of late 80s Cheap Trick. But there are also comparisons with the likes of Maple Mars and Vegas With Randolph, Yet the band are equally at home with AOR and Wide Awake is classic UK Pop Rock. That particular song screams out for a wider audience.
Where Is My Girl? is close to Del Amitri, Movie Star has a vibe of Extreme before they wanted to show show everyone how they were really a Metal band. It is a song that would fit comfortably on III Sides To Every Story, one of the great underappreciated Pop Rock albums.
Then there is the String arrangement on Perfect Day In Hell, a melodic joy of a song. Too many string arrangements do not fit the rock band's song, this one does. There is so much variety on display that I feel guilty to say I like Mighty Dan Gerous best when they are on Da Trick radar, particularly Mood Swings.
There are some great vocal harmonies throughout and you can tell how much work has gone into the production and arrangements. This is no thrown together thing. To say that it is splendid at what it does would be a real understatement.
I have one quibble. I would have ended the album at Track 12 due to how Christmas songs get under my skin. All that forced jollity is too much to bear. Maybe that could have been released as a single at Christmas, it seems out of place here. However, Everybody Needs A Hero is a fantastic album and underlines how feel good Pop Rock is when it is done with love and care. Highly Recommended!
You can listen to and buy the album here. You can find out more about the band here.
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Great review! Many thanks!
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