Andreas Novak | Novakation
by Mark Allen
Staff Writer
Fans of Swedish singer-guitarist Andreas Novak have exhibited Job-like patience as they awaited this second solo effort from the ex-Mind’s Eye vocalist and current House of Shakira frontman, but those fans will probably proclaim the wait well worth it once they hear this album, especially if they’re in the mood for some quality melodic rock. You could also call this Westcoast AOR, or heartland rock, or you could simply say it sounds like Bryan Adams crossed with Bon Jovi and sprinkled with John Cougar Mellencamp. Any of those tags fit just fine.
This is one of those summertime rock albums, designed to be cranked up while the convertible top is down and the ocean breeze is blowing through your tresses or, given the age group this is likely to appeal to, caressing your shiny cranium. It would serve as a great soundtrack to a beachside barbecue, guitar-driven enough to avoid sounding like chick music, but several shades shy of heavy to avoid driving those bikini-clad babes away from the party.
Novak has a warm, rich voice and the production plays to his strengths as both a rock singer and a guitar slinger, opting for an organically melodic engineering approach that puts his vocals front and center and studiously avoids any hint of modern concession while his six-string skills drive the songs. Keyboards are definitely included in the sound-scape, but they are mostly relegated to subtle accent status, aside from the rare occasion when they are permitted a more dominate role.
The main flaw of Novakation is the presence of too much filler, with nearly half the album made up of throwaways. Had this been a 7-track EP, this would have been a grade-A example of its genre, but the flow is badly hamstrung by five or six duds that will make you reach for the Skip button more often than you would like. Digital music advocates are advised to create their own playlist for this one, adding the good songs and jettisoning the junk, resulting in a significantly superior listening experience.
The album races out of the gate with “Highway to Anywhere,” a hooky sunshine rocker that practically begs you to sing along. It sets the bar—and expectations—very high, and unfortunately the next few songs do their best to cause those expectations to crash and burn. But just when you’re ready to send this album to the scrap heap, “Keep This Flame” pulls things back from the brink on the strength of a smoking riff and a full-blooded American rock anthem chorus. This punch to the eardrums is followed up by another jolt of adrenalin in “No Vacation,” which is all squealing guitars and big backing vocals. Other tracks that garner seals of approval are “A New Hope,” which borrows from Bon Jovi’s “Runaway,” and “Mr. Cred” which features a moody, move-your-body rhythm that makes sitting still virtually impossible. And while the album technically closes with “2009,” you should pretend that acoustic atrocity doesn’t exist and allow things to wrap up with “Yesterday’s Rain,” a soaring AOR gem that sounds like something you might expect to hear on a Frontline project. With big guitars, commercial hooks, and tons of harmonies, this would have been the proper way to end the album.
Those seeking angry aggression or annihilistic attitude should go check out the latest Metal Blade offerings. Novakation is being released on Andrew McNiece’s Melodic Rock Records label and that is exactly the crowd this album is catering to. No, it’s not perfect—far too many songs just lay there like a bored lover and do absolutely nothing for you—but at least half the album consists of the kind of straight-forward, sing-along tunes that fans of this genre enjoy. Novakation takes you on a rock ‘n’ roll journey and despite the presence of some speed bumps along the way, it is unlikely that this album will be taking a vacation from your stereo anytime soon.
Genre: Melodic rock
Band:
Andreas Novak
Johan Niemann
Daniel Flores
Andreas Passman
Erik Martensson
Track Listing
1. Highway to Anywhere
2. I Must Be Mad
3. Days of our Lives
4. Dare to Believe
5. Keep This Flame
6. No Vacation
7. Part of Your Plan
8. A New Hope
9. Light Years
10. Mr. Cred
11. Yesterday’s Rain
12. 2009
Webpage: www.myspace.com/andreasnovak
Label: Melodic Rock Records
Hardrock Haven rating: 7/10