The Beatles memorably suggested, “all you need is love,” and also thoughtfully discussed revolution via their music. However, 2SUNS combine these two human principles into one succinct thought with the song and the CD, Love Revolution. But when they sing about revolution, it’s clearly a positive step in humanity, rather than a violent overthrow of any government. “’Cause we are the people, living in a Love Revolution/And we see the future, living the new creation,” goes the title track, hopefully.
2SUNS is a pop-rock act consisting of Gary Bettum and Gina Donello. Donello sings all twelve of these songs, although Bettum co-wrote each of them and plays many different instruments on the CD. Judging from the general lyrical sentiments and colorful CD artwork, Love Revolution looks lovingly back to the ‘60s its historic The Summer Of Love. But except for “Beyond The Veil”, which has a distinctly George Harrison, post-India visit Eastern feel to it, 2SUNS mainly creates sharply produced pop. Donello is obviously a professionally trained vocalist because each and every sung word can be heard distinctly.
Lee Curreri produced this CD with 2SUNS, and how you react to their music strongly depends upon the way you feel about well-produced music. Love Revolution gives off the overall impression of being squeaky clean pop-rock – perhaps too clean, too shiny. 2SUNS perspective (lyrically, at least) hearkens back to a time when cries for peace, folk music, and rock & roll all magically intersected simultaneously. That music was also about as loose as the sexual morals at the time, and spontaneity and raw sincerity were valued far above slick, radio-ready production. Somehow, unkempt (and sometimes downright dirty) hippies created aural beauty during a time when the young generation truly believed a love revolution was possible and within reach. But 2SUNS are preaching a distinctly different love revolution, at least with its sonic politics.
You may not be down with 2SUNS consistently polished sound, but you’d have to be a Grinch-and-a-half to find fault with this disc’s hope-filled lyrical perspective – silver linings easily outnumber clouds. On “Beautiful World”, for example, Donello suggests a better planet-possibility by singing: “If only we could be together/If only we could love each other.” Then on “Turnaround”, personal redemption is made nearly tangible: “Find a way, to turn it around, turn around.” Lastly, “Waiting in the Dawn” asks similar redemptive questions with these words: “Do you believe in second chances? Do you believe in love?” It’s a rhetorical question, of course, with “yes” the only singular choice answer.
Although The Beatles sang, “All you need is love,” they also broke up shortly thereafter. (Well, so much for love). Nevertheless, we can all agree that the world needs a whole lot more love, and for that we ought to be thankful for 2SUNS positive approach to music. Even so, it’s hard to see where 2SUNS fit into today’s music culture. Most radio stations either play dance music or hard rock bludgeon, or some variation on one or the other. But 2SUNS’ music doesn’t make you want to dance or bang your head. Instead, this act might be more successful targeting its sounds at New Age religious folks. This unbridled faith in love will surely appeal to anyone looking for innovative approaches in making the world a better place, a subset that might also include the growing green community. Furthermore, during this day and age, when loaded guns speak much louder than calls for peace and tranquility, Love Revolution offers a welcome voice of reason.
Reviewed By Dan MacIntosh
