Ready for liftoff?
The alt rock n' roll band Next Planet has arrived to take you on a sonic musical journey with their interstellar debut album, Star-Crossed.
The band features longtime musical contributors Rick Lyons (guitar, vocals), Tim Gavin (drums, vocals), and Andy Sviatko (bass), and Scott Fischer on keys and lead vocals. In previous works, Fischer was often in the front seat, being the group leader and composer in earlier projects. The band has now taken a new approach to run more in a participative style while still using his compelling storytelling as a driving force.
They previously released an EP, Safe Travels, in 2019. but the band has released several compositions prior, as they constantly collaborated. With seven studio albums and many live performance experiences under his belt, Fischer continues to explore his own sonic boundaries. Next Planet's music leads with palpable rock energy, openness, and a touch of humor, with his songwriting taking the driver's seat.
The album sweeps listeners onto the journey forward with powerful, snappy drums and fiery guitar licks in the opening track, "2-Eyed Julie." The lyrics are simple but memorable, making it easy to get stuck in your head with non-lexical vocals to drive the melody deep into the depths of the listeners' brains. The tune's energy and vibrance sets the rest of the record up to be one hell of a ride to the other side.
Easing along the journey, we stop at another standout for this record, "Pins and Needles." This playful tune has a psychedelic feel, with smooth keys from Fischer and ambient synths to fill the remaining space in the background. It drifts listeners to a dreamlike state, bringing it home with an epic and intense guitar solo.
Taking another pitstop, our voyage lands us on another gem, "End of Days." The spunky keys and sparkly electric guitar lick ignite the flame at this beginning and set the tone for the rest of the song. The vocals push forward with raw emotions, and the background harmonies tie everything together, adding texture that makes the lyrics in this one stand out with a sense of urgency. The force of nature sound in this one feels like the second adrenaline boost for the album's second half.
The album finishes on a high note and comes back to earth on "Half a Calf." This number carries a mellower, introspective feel, still maintaining the raw energy, delivering like a classic melodic rock song from the 1970s. The lyrics unfold the strength and carry weight until the song fades out. There's a sense of deep vulnerability, but also a sense of empowerment to keep pushing forward.
Next Planet has a knack for mesmerizing guitar solos, emotionally charged narratives, and timeless resonance, as displayed in Star-Crossed. The album also carefully displays a sense of humor to help create a lighthearted feel around topics that carry many emotions to ponder. If you're fan of theatrical and cinematic-leaning classic rock n' roll, you might want to explore Next Planet.
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