Album Review

Wensday –

• 19th Feb 2008

This is the first release from Wensday, the former nightclub singer from Providence, Rhode Island.

With famous fans including Alice Cooper and band members in common with Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Tom Jones, Queen and Cooper himself there is potential for either a confused mess of styles here or a thing of true greatness.

To be honest it’s neither. It’s true, Torch Rock isn’t sure which stand it ought to be perched on in HMV (cosied up next to Leanne Rymes in Country, or looking miserable with Evanescence in Rock) but this identity crisis doesn’t affect the quality on offer here. Wensday’s voice is powerful and at times haunting but always spot on whilst production is flawless and the band are all accomplished musicians in their respective genres and there are flashes of true brilliance like the use of the Wurlitzer on ‘Heartbreak Saloon’.

Whilst the ‘bluesier’ songs tend to stick to the more trad themes of love and relationships songs like ‘Predatory Gentleman’ tackle the bigger issues of female empowerment. Other highlights include ‘Arizona Man’, a country classic in the making, and a cover of Coopers classic ballad ‘Only Women Bleed’.

None of this is particularly new or exciting but that doesn’t stop it being very very good!