There's a million and one recipes for cooking up good, commercial hard rock music, but what separates this fourth release by Dennis Cameron's Angelica from the rest of the lot is that through his deft guitar playing and simple-man lyrics, one is left feeling positive and full of hope.
Most will probably find the Extreme-like funk of "Gotta Get Ready," "Running Wild," and "Open Your Mind" to be their cup of tea. However, the standout tracks in this reviewer's mind are "Second Chance" and "I Can Hardly Wait To See," both of which have a high-velocity/folksy-campfire feel to them.
In regards to the positive vibe the album evokes, the song titles pretty much tell the story. It's the catchy chorus from the closing track "Carry Me" that sums it all up; "Carry me until tomorrow/Keep me smilin' so that I can face today/The only peace of mind I see/Is when I only see you in me."
No major breakthroughs here. Just a simple man from Canada sending a message of love and assurance that everything is gonna be alright. An epistle of encouragement, if you will.
3.5/5
Other coverage for this album
Heaven's Metal #36Reviewed by Doug Van PeltAfter three albums of good ideas, could Angelica be ready to gel as a band and release the perfect album? Guitar ace Dennis Cameron produced himself a really good guitar sound, as usual, and his playing in "Gotta Get Ready" prepares the listener for the tasteful riffs to come. "Running Wild" has a very cool groove, and though the drums (programmed?) are solid, they don't punch. "Second Chance"…
