Recent Reviews

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

December 2023

November 2023

[ More Music Reviews ]


Cranston: Cranston
Cranston 2016 Debut Album Phil Vincent CD Album Review

Cranston: Cranston

AOR/Melodic Hard Rock
4.5/5.0

If anything vocalist Phil Vincent is both consistent and persistent. In some twenty years the enduring musician has released 34 albums, if I counted correctly, between his solo work and the bands Tragik, Legion, Circular Logik and others. In 2015, he released six albums. Count 'em. Six. Holy crap. Now, after a momentary rest, he brings his new invention, Cranston. Named after his hometown in Rhode Island, it features songs penned with legendary musician and producer Paul Sabu, who plays all instruments, excepting drums, and produced the album.

Phil Vincent Photo

Phil Vincent

And the consistency, or inevitability, remains, whether it's Vincent or Sabu. Neither talent ventures from the Eighties. This is basic classic melodic hard rock in an AOR wrapper. Additionally, in this case, the Cranston is sharper, a bit heavier, nearing melodic metal. But the fundamentals remain: big vocals and vocal harmonies, catchy melodies, nice hooks in the arrangements and refrains, plenty of groove and, of course, brisk guitar riffs and slick solos. All this with Vincent at the helm of the Cranston ship. Like I said, it's what Vincent and Sabu do. It's inherent, second nature as it were.

So, generally, the album rocks with a heavier groove. Unwanted, Long Long Way To Go, Fallen, and also Queen Of The Pain, with the persistent cow bell. Yeah, you read right. How Eighties is that? It's also to say there are no ballads here. The closest thing may be Sea of Madness, but it also has a deep bottom end. Actually, there isn't anything inherently tame about any song on this album. Plain and simple Cranston is melodic hard rock. And recommended.

Cranston - See You On The Other Side


Share This Review with Your Friends





CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The Bottom Line

Plain and simple Cranston, featuring Phil Vincent and Paul Sabu, is classic, even Eighties, melodic hard rock in an AOR wrapper. And recommended.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity Album Review

Once more we return to multi-national band Lords Of Black which features Ronnie Romero (v), Dani Criado (b), Jo Nunez (d), and founder, guitarist, and principal songwriter Tony Hernando. After a three year ... [ Read More ]