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[ More Music Reviews ]

FM: Thirteen

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 23.03.2022 | Released: 18.03.2022

Though the fellows in FM may be pushing their Sixties, age is just a number. The number to know now is Thirteen, the legendary UK band's latest studio album. Their success was early, back between 1984 and 1995 with five notable albums. Revival came in 2007 at Nottingham's Rock City festival where the band reunited to headline the show. Inspired by the reception, the band recorded their "comeback" album, Metropolis, in 2010 to grateful reviews. And the hits kept coming with their new album.

FM

Explaining or describing the FM sound, would be a matter of insulting the most-favored Dangerdog Review readers intelligence. We all know their music is classic melodic hard rock wrapped in AOR sensibility. If there are key elements to suggest, they start quickly with founding member and vocalist Steve Overland's smooth, soulful, and melodic vocal presence. Everything else is simple well-crafted classic rock steeped in memorable melody and groove, vocal and guitar harmony, repeatable refrains, and plenty of spirited guitar solos. With Overland's bluesy, soulful vocal style, the band swerves away from what most remember from the Eighties: glam and sleaze rock. FM is none of that and never will be. The inject more Seventies groove than Sunset Strip punk nastiness. Not to be simplistic or redundant, but this is what we expect from FM and, as usual, the band delivers in spades.

Then to highlight a few songs, I was partial mostly to the rockers like Shaking The Tree or Love And War, though this one offers a subtle start. Riffs roar for the rather brisk Every Man Needs A Woman, where the keyboards have a subtle Hammond sound. Alternatively, Be Lucky revives the AOR accessibility with its upbeat pop beat and groove. That laid back FM soulfulness rises high and large within the slower ballad Long Road Home. Wrapping up, Thirteen finds FM consistent and constant in their production of well-crafted, melodic, and soulful classic rock. If you're a fan, get it. You will not be disappointed.

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

Thirteen finds FM consistent and constant in their production of well-crafted, melodic, and soulful classic rock. If you're a fan, get it. You will not be disappointed.

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