Tragedy Ann
One Nation Under God
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
I was very curious to see how Tragedy Ann would settle in to their new sound. Having made the drastic jump from its muscle heavy grungified Sometime Sunday music, Mikee Bridges and company practically made Tragedy Ann a bonafide Southern Rock band (minus the slide guitars and references to whiskey). Mikee's voice really fit the music, and the songs were done well. Now that they've established something, how well will they swim in it? Album number two tells the story. Mixing the passionate vocal delivery in true postpunk fashion, the riffs pay homage to legends like Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws, Blackfoot and Skynyrd, but the muddy guitar tones brand too much Northwestern smoke on these boys not to be identified with their region as well. I'm a little surprised at the song, "You Are Mighty," though, due to the use of the cliche echoes of "Hey!" in each chorus, along with a junior high Kiss plodding rhythm. The lyrics are pure worship, though, and it's fairly catchy. Watch this be a hit. Having been constantly involved with music and ministry for several years, Mikee's lyrics are loud proclamations of what God's grace has done and can do. In the same way that many "revolutionary" grunge acts have now found a home in classic rock radio, Tragedy Ann's music can successfully bridge two or three generations together. It's accessible, the songs are hook-driven, but they're also dirty enough and real enough to be played in the street. These boys have done well. Tip your hat to 'em, son.\
Other coverage for this album
7ball #24Reviewed by Mike ParkerTragedy Ann's follow-up to last year's surprise hit, Lesser, is chock full of its own surprises. For one thing, the whole tone of One Nation Under God is less dark, less foreboding, less angry than Lesser. For another, the production values have shot through the roof. This album rocks. No artificial flavors; no artificial colors; no kidding. This is standard, three-chord progression, double-kick…