Adam Isaac – Train Tracks (One Track Records)
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| Adam Isaac - Train Tracks |
Just to get this out of the way straight away, yes this is
the Adam Isaac that some of you may have seen on the Voice making a geriatric Welshman
spin around in his chair like a confused pensioner on Boxing day. But let’s
face it, these TV talent shows are just a way for artists who already have a
back catalogue to get some extra exposure because large scale broadcasting
companies won’t back new talent so let’s not prejudge the music shall we? Isaac
is a good looking chap but, again, that doesn't preclude him from having any
talent does it – just look at Dave Grohl.
Opening track ‘Carry You Through’ is a sweeping, piano lead
track that has the potential to sour and swoop through a range of emotions. ‘She’s
A Star’ is a soft-rock ballad that would fit perfectly on the soundtrack of a
film during that scene where the heroine stops letting everybody put her down
and decides to fight for herself for once. There’s a very 90s American Indie
feel about ‘Would You Believe It’ and ‘From The Skies’ has the earnest
qualities of an ex-boyband member trying to go it solo – I’m looking at you
Mark Owen. There’s no denying that Adam Isaac is a talented musician and has
surrounded himself with equally talented performers but there does seem a
certain spark missing in these songs. It’s not that the album lacks variety;
the cod-funk of ‘Show Off’ is a Robbie Williams singing with Red Hot Chili Peppers
strut through the mind of an egomaniac and ‘Some Kind Of Animal’ sees Isaac
exploring his inner rock-star in the way that Muse did on their first
recordings but with less success. No, it’s more that the songs feel like they've been created by one of those fake bands that always play at the prom in
American High School dramas like Dawson’s Creek. All the melodies are very
soaring with evocative pianos and quiet bits in the middle so that the main
characters can finally kiss but it doesn't feel real. I can’t imagine how this music would sound live as the
production quality is so clean that you don’t get a sense of any rawness or
honesty.
Now don’t go misunderstanding me, this isn't a straight out
slating of Adam Isaac. I think he genuinely has some talent but I’m just not
sure it’s being used in the right way. You see, in the U.S. I think Adam would
be huge by now, such is their penchant for the more earnest side of Indie-Rock
but to hear this brand of music coming from an Englishman just doesn't sound
quite right. Blame my cynical ears if you will but when he sings “I just wanna
be myself” in ‘Be Myself’ it just reminds me of an angry teenager rather than
someone genuinely battling with issues of self-image, self-identity and
self-loathing – the wonderfully harmonious backing vocals and 80s hair metal
guitar solo don’t help as it’s harder to hear the pain when it’s layered in so
many layers of sound. There is hope though, album closer, ‘You Don’t Know’, has
some genuinely interesting arrangements and melodies running through it and
perhaps suggests a slightly more innovative direction for the singer in the
future. If I had to give one bit of advice, and Christ knows why anybody would
ask, I would steer Adam Isaac away from The Voice and suggest he goes off for a
while to find his own voice.
More information: http://www.adamisaac.com/
Live Dates:
November 9th – Bunters, Truro
November 10th – Live & Unleashed @ Sailer’s,
Newquay
November 17th – Torquay Town Centre, Christmas
Lights Switch On
November 22nd – Exeter Princesshay, Christmas
Lights Switch On