The most unjust with the music industry is that success and talent doesn’t have as much in common as they should have. Ok, many good bands have had great success, but in a perfect world for me, Mike Roucco would be on the big arenas with Cinder Road like a young and hungry Bon Jovi.
Even with his first band Plunge he showed great qualities and got signed to the European label Atenzia that released the very find debut, "Hometown Hero". This draw the attention to Columbia Records that signed the band and released the album "Superhuman", produced by none other than Marti Fredricksen. A truly awesome album, where the 80's met the 2000's, filled with classic rock at its best. However, this was only one album there to my great disappointment and really thought that they would get at least two chances. But the band did not give up returned in 2010 with the Scott Stevens (The Exies) produced album “Damage Control”. Once again a great piece of work and basically as good as the debut, but without any promotion you don’t have that much of chance even if you got a bunch of hits recorded.
The band disbanded, but frontman Mike Roucco continued to record and is now back with his debut solo alum debut. A handful of tracks are taken from "Damage Control" which I totally can understand as they have great potential and deserves a second chance. The new tracks are also of highest standard as before in a stylish arena format with huge melodies all over. However, it is slightly more pop-oriented this time and feels more like a solo album, which of course is really suitable.
Tracks that stand out are the new "Too Late" and "I'm Never Giving Up On You," but even the older "Losing Ground" and "It Hurts" are really magically good Modern Rock.
So if you like he did in the past or even the Bon Jovi newer records this big talent and his new album is a given check up. Awesome stuff!
