Midnight to Twelve Midnight to Twelve
by Franco Wissa
Staff Writer
There is something really cool about holding an unknown band’s release in your hands. With an almost feel of trepidation it get slipped into the CD changer, and slowly the music comes into focus. The listener holds his breath not knowing what to expect, but then something great happens. After a few moments into the opening musical bar, a reach for the volume knob is made; the listener relaxes and just gets absorbed into the music. And such it is with this, Southern California’s Midnight to Twelve, and their debut of the same name, for this is one terrific CD. Muscular, crunchy guitars, hard hitting drums, a hint of keyboards to give it a nasty vibe, sensational vocal harmonies, guitar solos playing deliciously in the background, and to round it all off is a thumping bass line.
Forming in L.A. in 2000, the band came together after bringing on board keyboardist Steve Oliver and finding guitarist Daniel Jordan through the classifieds, the band then added drummer Drew Molleur. With a secure line up in place, the time came to begin rehearsing and writing material.
However deciding on a band name proved to be more difficult, but after discussing the shift bassist Al Baca was working in order to be able to rehearse during the day, the idea for the name Midnight to Twelve came. It is because of this bands dedication to consistently putting on a great show, tight songwriting, excellent musicianship, that this quintet has been asked to share the stage with such hard hitters as Saliva, Evanesence, Joan Jett and Buckcherry.
Kicking things in the ass is the opening track, “How Bad.” With its short intro of synthesizers, drums then come slowly into play, followed by hard rocking guitars, when suddenly the track explodes into what is certainly one of this CD’s highlights. Not a bad track is to be heard (although the closing track “King of Spain” was unfortunately not as strong as those heard up to that point.) While taking a listen to this release, what comes into mind is the dedication that the band members have for consistently hitting the mark time and again throughout this CD’s playing time. While there is simplicity and straightforwardness to the songwriting, what makes it work, and the trick that the songwriters have is to make it sound good and effortless, and in those areas, this band definitely does things right. Never settling for second best, never letting the music become overwhelming, instead the music shines, each track standing on its on merit, thereby listening to them never becomes a chore. By taking full advantage of the instruments, playing them extremely well, and with tight songwriting the band comes across as tight, cohesive and unified.
With a mix of the best artists of today, (Hinder, Kill the Alarm, Seether or 12 Stones) what else is heard, especially on tracks like “Good Morning Again,” Rhyme or Reason,” “Remembering,” and “Moment,” are touches of the best of former times when sensational heavy keyboards, and, thank God, when guitar solos were a vital part of a band’s arsenal.
The bottom line is this – those times when a unknown band’s new release is held and one wonders whether it will sail into a part of the musical landscape where only the good is heard, or it would be best to leave it unheard, remember bands like Midnight to Twelve, and their promise to being part of that good musical landscape. This was really well done.
Musicians:
Jon Hartman – vocals
Al Baca – bass
Steve Oliver – keyboards
Daniel Jordan – guitars
Drew Molleur – drums
Track listing
How Bad
Future
Story
Burning
Slam
Good Morning Again
Rhyme or Reason
Contain It
Remembering
Too Much
Moment
King of Spain
HRH Rating: 8.5/10