by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
This IS NOT a Ted Poley solo album. It’s a project he worked on with the dudes from Degreed, which is basically Modern Rock–not Hair Metal, not old school Hard Rock–but like Modern AOR Rock. If you are used to what you are used to from Poley … it’s going to throw you for a bit of a loop.
The good thing? Frontiers is releasing his new solo album in 2019 so whether you like Modern Art or not, as always … Poley has more music coming your way.
For a guy who has built his fanbase off of Hair Metal with Danger Danger, and some insane solo records, along with projects like Poley/Rivera and Tokyo Motor Fist … you’d have to be in the loop to see this one coming. “Left field” isn’t far enough to describe what you’ll hear on Modern Art.
“New World” starts this modern journey, and Poley sings about as low as you’ve ever heard him. Now, that’s not a bad thing–Poley is one of those ’80s rockers who hasn’t lost an iota of vocal talent through the decades; he could sing a cookbook and it’d somehow sound like it should. There’s nuances of cutting guitars, the drumming is stunning and powerful (actually throughout the entire album), but this doesn’t sound like what’d you’d expect from Poley.
Modern Art has released a number of lyric videos, and “Gypsy at Heart” may be the best. The chorus is a Danger Danger chorus; the band Degreed pitched this one in Poley’s wheelhouse and as always, he knocked it out of the park and hopefully hit some beer guzzling hot dog eating dude in the gut while doing so. Perchance, the best song on the release …
“Out of Control” is one of those songs where you hear things like … beats. It’s not “electronica” by any means, but putting Poley’s voice along with beats is a creative stretch … that works wonders. Another highlight of the release; you don’t expect to hear it, but when you do, it makes perfect sense. (On a side note, the chorus at times sounds like Pink’s “Just Like a Pill.” NO, not exactly, but the tempo and rhythm.)
If you were looking for an upbeat, anthemic release … nope. On “Time,” you again hear Poley use his lower range and his pitch, timbre, everything makes you wonder, “Why now dude?” He can still hit all the highs, but the warmth in his lower range is palpable.
The heaviest and crunchiest song is, “I Know a Liar.” This is just … the joint songwriting efforts mayhap needed some more feeling out, because this one matches (if doesn’t outright destroy) “Gypsy at Heart.”
Things slow back down after the last highlight, and it all culminates on “Wilderness.” This composition is one of those kind of arena anthems you’ve been waiting for, and the guitar solo probably the best on the release.
Modern Art is not what your typical Poley fan (whatever that means) was expecting. Is it good? Hell yeah. Worth your attention? Twice. Just don’t think you are walking into “Under the Gun” or “Naughty Naughty.” This is Poley morphing his talent to the song in front of him and proving once again as long as you have the ears … he has the voice.
Genre: Hard Rock
Band:
Ted Poley – Vocals
Daniel Johansson – Guitars
Robin Eriksson – Bass, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on track 11.
Mikael Jansson – Keyboards, programming,
Mats Eriksson – Drums, percussion
Tracklisting:
New World
Gypsy At Heart
Bury Me
Out Of Control
Running For The Light
What Kind Of Love
Time
Devil To My Angel
I Know A Liar
Find Another Man
Wilderness
Label: Independent
Online:
www.ted-poley.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.1 / 10)
