If you’ve followed Melbourne’s The Radio Sun over the last five years you’ll have witnessed a band who aren’t afraid of hard work – playing stages around the world and still making the time to release a new album each year. This year’s fifth release ‘Beautiful Strange’ could also well be their best so far, and the album produced by the band, mixed by Paul Laine (Solo, Dark Horse, The Defiants) and mastered by Bruno Ravel (Danger Danger, The Defiants) is set to be one of the Melodic Rock releases of the year.
The Radio Sun play the type of Melodic Rock that is all about the melody, the hook and the vocal harmonies, but also the type of Melodic Rock that really understands the importance of the guitar – and its a sound that is perfectly summed upon opener and first single – ‘Hold on Tight’ which is just the sort of song that would have ridden high in the Rock charts in the eighties.
If that wasn’t enough I’m slightly embarrassed to say having spoken to Steve a few times over the years that the next two tracks could be two of the very best Melodic Rockers I’ve heard in many a long year – ‘Believe in Me’ has one of the catchiest choruses you will ever hear and sounds so sure of itself you’d swear it was a huge git from yesteryear. The soaring ‘Should Have Listened To My Heart’ though might even be better – I’m almost speechless – this has to be one of the best opening salvos I’ve heard so far this decade. And if you love Melodic Rock this is an absolute must.
Elsewhere of course its all still bright blue skies! ‘As Long as You Want Me’ has a very accessible John Waite demeanor and sounds like a real cross-over hit in the waiting; ‘Out of this World’ has a wonderful simplicity and breeziness; whilst ‘Miss Wonderful’ again lifts the bar just that little bit higher to deliver a truly memorable experience that takes on a life of its own with that perfectly-crafted solo.
The amazing thing is that the second half of the album is just as finely honed: starting out with the big Sunset Strip sounds and Melodic sheen of ‘Have You Got What It Takes’ and the bouncy, blue sky sounds of ‘I Don’t Want to See You Cry’ which has a huge hook and more than a touch of Pop. Then there’s the ear-worm effect of the deceptively simple ‘Hearts On Fire’; the lush and ‘already a classic’ sounds of ‘Beautiful Secret’; and the melodic majesty of ‘Five Years After.’
The album closes with one of the very best this time round: ‘Stand Tall United’ has an infectious crunch, wonderful chugging guitars and real urgency, it rides a wonderful melody that if anyone like Pink had a hold of it would Top the charts without question. Great song, infectious and a great call to arms.
Normally I don’t get to review the Radio Sun albums when they drop, they get snapped straight up, I just sit back and enjoy them. This time I’m glad I got to say a little about one of the real world class bands Melbourne currently have, the kings of Australian Melodic Rock – The Radio Sun.
