Refugee
Life Goes On
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
I love to hear a new band before the hype reaches my ears. It helps bring a fresh objectiveness to the reviewing process. This was not the case with Refugee. A good friend of mine from Colorado, whose opinion I respect very much, couldn't say enough good things about these guys--so much for an unbiased first listen. What I hear on this debut album is a band loaded with talent, good songwriting--right down to the guitar fills--and a vocalist with a pleasant sound. Several listens show the band's talent, yet also reveal the weakness in the majority of this material. Are they better live? I'm convinced that some of these songs would fare better in the looser environment that a stage provides. Although these tunes have some hot 'n' edgy moments (especially due to guitarist Mike Albrecht's leads), the songs bog down at times in a "let's check into formula rock motel" for a while and leave our passion for music behind. I think this is what holds back bands like Whiteheart some times. I also think that the increase in distortion and volume that a live setting provides would breathe more life into these tunes as well. Even though Refugee could be coined a pop metal band, I'd say they were cleaned up too much for this recording. Lyrically the band kicks butt where it needs to. Songs like "Slave to Emotion" give direction on where to prioritize our human emotions. "Big Bang" blasts the vacuous evolution theory with fun 'n' funky music (horn sections? Yes!) to match the tongue-in-cheek lyrical matter: "Evolution, try and find a clue/ Look in the mirror, is there a monkey in you?" The tune "Ride the Wind" is a standout, as is the ballad "Surrender All," where vocalist Shawn Shepherd gets to shine. For info in ordering this CD, write: PO Box 1625, Greeley CO 80632.