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Name: A Tale of Risky Business Pt. 2
Label: Unsigned/Indie
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Review written by: Alan Ho |
2 years have passed since Honor Society made their much hyped major label debut "Fashionably Late", which debuted at no. 18 before literally dropping off the chart despite selling out their 2 headlining tours and landed a plum spot on Timbaland's "Shock Value II" Tour. After ultimately parting ways with Jonas Records a year ago, the question was, what would this still dynamic pop/rock quartet do now that they have to return to the proverbial drawing board?
The end result is "A Tale of Risky Business Part 2", which can be construed as either a follow-up to "Fashionably" or a continuation of their groundbreaking EP from 2008's "A Tale of Risky Business". The album may as well be more validation of the approach taken by The Cab, when they ultimately decided to bankroll on their own the entire process it takes to craft an album past its writing stage. "Part 2" is a solidly built album, stripping the major label production slick from "Fashionably Late" and putting back the original, raw, dynamic and powerful funk-pop/rock sound from the original "Risky Business". As an added bonus, taking a page from their contemporaries The Cab, seems to read like a story, this one though complete with a prologue, a couple interludes and an epilogue.
After the pensive piano-driven, ocean shore themed- prologue "M.I.A.", the album begins with funkified "Living a Lie" and for those who jumped on the bandwagon two years ago, the slightly bite from the lyrics may throw off a bit. But the sound is a clear return to what worked for them nearly four years ago; a Maroon 5/Prince-type take on pop/rock set behind Michael Bruno's silky smooth operator vocals. Despite its biting breakup lyrical theme, Bruno's smooth operating allows "Living a Lie" to come off as cool and collected.
"Such a Lovely Life" feeds into a seductive yet smooth tune titled "Gentleman After Dark" and is everything a major label would dream of showcasing to radio outlets from coast to coast. "Gentleman After Dark" combines 80s-era pure R&B/pop lyrics with the kind of musical arrangement that would make Bruno Mars, Prince, Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke proud and again would be a song you would be able to hear on the radio right now.
"One of a Kind" is one of the best tracks on the album; the vocal harmonies in the refrain are unforgettable and has an almost Bruno Mars-like quality to it. If you're not smiling at the end of this song, something might be wrong with you.
Honor Society raises the temperature up with the high energy "What's It Gonna Be". The catchy dance beat and chorus serves to make this flirt-fest you won't be forgetting long after you listen to the song. The band gets even more bolder and more upfront about their feelings for you in the slightly less dancey "Run For Your Money".
The full length track-fest ends with "Wherever You Are" featuring possibly rising singer-songwriter Aaron Camper. The song is probably hands down the best track on the album from both the lyrical and musical perspective. The lyrics crackle from start to finish and have R&Bish pop/rock feel set behind a drum and synth driven pop/rock/hip-hop combo that gives a satisfying finish to the album.
The album contains a well-done and executed bonus track called "Hurricane" and while it doesn't seem to mesh with the rest of the album, it is a still well built pop song using a storm as a metaphor for just about anything, but most likely about personal relationships. The song proves the band hadn't forgotten what they learned while tied down to a major label for that one year and something good musically came out of the experience.
Overall "A Tale of Risky Business Pt. 2" is a well-done, well thought and well-executed album. The album showcases once again what the four are capable of doing best: a modern take on funkified pop/rock while adding dashes of old school R&B behind superior musicianship and smooth operating vocals but also occasionally showing their softer, more guitar-driven pop/rock side. Tracks like "Gentleman After Dark" and "Living a Lie" are proof of what Bruno and company do best while "Wherever You Are" shows some of the new wrinkles they have added to a sound that still at this juncture has a chance to be succesful on a widespread scale. This album proves that Honor Society is back and better than ever. |
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