TRB
TRB
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
Like many of you, I saw the TRB album advertised by R.E.X. and wondered "Who are these guys?" When I opened the disc and saw the name Tony Rossi, I knew that this was the Tony Rossi Band. This guy was my favorite songwriter for one of my early fans in Christian rock--The Daniel Band. It's really good to see that Tony's consistency in songwriting. He's still centrally focused on Jesus and still proclaiming the truth that "it all comes together on a cruel wooden cross." What is disappointing, though, is the fact that Tony's stayed consistent musically. Can you say "stuck in a rut"? There's nothing wrong with rehashing old 70's riffs and sounds, but to do it right it's got to be larger than life. Compare the aggressiveness of the latest Bride with the low intensity level here. Most any of these songs could've appeared on the Daniel Band's Run From The Darkness album. The best cut here is probably Take It, which features cool guitar and vocal textures and a mid-tempo rock feel. The vocal delivery in The Answer is hot. It's rapid and full of Megadeth-like attitude--until the chorus breaks it up with a ginger melody. There's a truly tender moment in the ballad Love Survives, yet it doesn't pack a punch. This is a good, edifying album for those content with the Daniel Band sound of the mid-80's, but those who dig the cutting edge of most 90's music will find it unappealing.