Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

The Fearless Hearts - The Fearless Hearts

1/26/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​The Fearless Hearts

The Fearless Hearts
self-released; 2016

​3.6 out of 5

By Dan Weston

The Fearless Hearts is a group from North Carolina comprised of Don Moody, Frank Gordon and Dave Newton with a couple of special guests. On their debut self-titled EP The Fearless Hearts they play very straightforward American rock that is a mix of popular bands like John Mellencamp, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. The band plows through familiar tropes that the aforementioned bands established and bands have replicated ever since. Suffice it to say The Fearless Hearts isn't making the most inventive music you will hear this year but the songwriting is solid. The band also treads familiar themes like leaving town, leaving someone, love, etc. that are about as familiar as Grandma's apple pie.

The production and recording quality is decent but could certainly use some improvement and consistency. There are some notable differences between production values on different songs. Take for example “Comes A Time” which if it had a more defined low end would sound close to a commercial quality song while “It Ain't Me” is a couple of dbs lower in volume and sounds closer to a demo. 

Although the songs were bursting with influence they were delivered with precision. The band is tight and I thought the performances were top notch. I have no complaints here and really enjoyed the inflection of the vocals.

The band starts with “Pounding Heart” which is about as American sounding as you can get. It’s catchy, very predictable but good fun. They have some more success with “Comes A Time” and although “Hard To Love” needed to have instrumentation louder in the mix I enjoyed the soulful performance. 

Don’t get me wrong this band has some talent and will be throughly enjoyed at bars and festivals. As soon as that person who was a Tom Petty fan since he was twelve hears this music as he is sipping on his beer he will take notice. He will enjoy the heck out of this music while this is being played live but it might sound too familiar to see a reason why to play this music as opposed to the old classics. My point is that I have no doubt this band can have a lot of local success and get a following to come see them play. If the band has larger goals and wants to reach a national or international audience I think it would behoove them to figure out how to infuse a little more of their own signature sound into the overt Americana style that is familiar to most of the population. It may not be too hard. I’m thinking bagpipes. Kidding aside something a little off-kilter may make them stand out from the crowd. 

​
Overall, this is a solid debut which shows some innate talent and builds a foundation. I look forward to hearing the band's evolution.
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact