Shades of Red is a band that knows music. Their album Absolution contains broad canvases of sounds and styles. Each song is a masterpiece of haunting melodies and powerful vocals. It is a work of art.
At its core, Absolution is deeply embedded in the genre of soft rock. Tracks like “Dotted Line” have all the elements of rock; a guitar driven melody, an upbeat tempo and a true songwriter’s lyrics, yet the song is soothing and even a bit melodramatic at times. It’s the epitome of a soft rock track. Now that’s not to say that Absolution is purely a soft rock album. It’s far from it, in fact. Soft rock is merely the brush Shades of Red dips in many palates of sound. “Courtney’s Room” for instance, tackles the more acoustic side of folk, while “The Wave” is heavily influenced by electronica. With the song “Chained,” the band explores the more soulful side of rock. Deep bass rhythms and the addition of organ helps them establish a richly intimate blues vibe with ease. The blues guitar work alone is simply spectacular, but in the end what truly makes this song work is the lead-singer’s silky smooth voice.
The lead-singer of Shades of Red is charismatic and sultry, and has a way of instantly captivating the listener. On “Dotted Line,” “Bowl of Seconds,” and “Southbound Train,” her haunting and stirring vocals evoke Natalie Merchant and Sarah McLachlan. There is a true richness in her tone and every line she sings radiates with emotion. Throw in the fact that she has enough soul to give Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera a run for their money, and you have a singer that is a natural storyteller.
While many of the songs on Absolution examine many deep and complex issues, it is perhaps the song “America” that delivers the most poignant narrative. It’s a protest song about the good, the bad, and ugly sides of America that digs into poverty, the war on drugs, and immigration. It asks America to take a long look at itself and see what it has become. The song is definitely politically charged, so not everyone may appreciate the tone, but there is no denying that the subject matter deserves more attention from the public eye. In that regard, this song places Shades of Red in league with such great protest artists as Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel.
Perhaps this album’s only weakness is that it becomes a bit repetitive in spots. The Sarah McLachlan vibe that makes Shades of Red so captivating seems to be overused. The vocals in the songs “Southbound Train” and “Absolution,” for instance, sound too much alike. These aren’t bad songs because of this, but the lack of diversity limits the possible range that could have been present on this album. On that note, there really should have been a show stopping number on this album, but every song feels in some way reserved. The lead vocalist needs a true ballad to really showcase her vocal range, as it often seems like she’s about to belt it out, but never follows through.
Despite some repetitiveness and the lack of a showstopper, Absolution is afantastic album. Shades of Red is a band marked by well-produced music, powerful vocals, and astronomical talent. Definitely check out this album. You won’t be disappointed.
Review by Zack Daggy
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
