Avion
November 2, 2004
Red Ink
Would You Notice
The album opener, Would You Notice, is a very strong track, with a killer chorus. It’s easy for anyone to connect to the lyrics and Steve Bertrand’s passionate and powerful vocals perform them very well.
Beautiful
Beautiful is something that I could hear on the radio. It has the right commercial format and the empathically sung vocals are just right for this song.
Seven Days Without You
With Seven Days Without You, Avion produces one of the better power ballads in the past couple of years. Comparisons with bands like Goo Goo Dolls, 3 Doors Down & Lifehouse are easily made, and Avion shows they can meet up with that standard of quality.
Loved
The next song has the catchy and alternative pop feel of bands like Nine Days & Matchbox Twenty. Come to think of it, vocally, Steve Bertrand kinda resembles Rob Thomas. On Loved the band shines again with a ready-for-radio mainstream pop/rock song. Good hooks and strong vocals lay the basis for this song.
Perfect From Now On
Avion is a band that writes good pop hooks and performs their songs passionately and powerfully. Perfect From Now On is one of their strongest songs lyrically, but not just lyrically. Musically also, this song has a lot of energy and the slightly more alternative sound the band displays in the song makes for one heck of a song.
Where Are You Now
Where Are You Now is another strong pop song, with a very nice melody that carries the song. The soulful vocals and the plea in the lyrics are a good match and musically, Avion is performing as a solid band with talented musicians.
Starting Over
The band shows a little more rock edge in Starting Over. While the song in itself is pretty strong and catchy, it’s probably one of my least favorite on this album. In a way I hear similar hooks as in Perfect From Now On and the sound of the song sometimes reminds me a little of a more mainstream version of American Hi-Fi. But while the song’s not too bad, it doesn’t really sparkle, it misses the passion somewhat.
Bulletproof Glow
The alternative rocker Bulletproof Glow shows the band does well in a more rock outfit as well. I was curious how this would play out, but on this song they show they can pull it off. It’s powerful and vocally strong, and there are some great hooks and everything’s really tight. The song works and it’s performed very strong.
It Falls Back On Me
Avion presents us with another power ballad, and frankly, it’s what they do best. It Falls Back On Me kind of is a signature song for the band. The catchy, sentimental song speaks to the listener and musically it is the strongest song on the album. The pure honesty and passion the band puts in this song is very well done and lifts this song up to a very high level. And lyrically it’s one of their best songs as well.
Trinidad And A DC-10
Trinidad & A DC-10 is a great, fun song. It’s modern rock & roll and the band has a lot of fun playing this song, and you can hear that. It makes for an excellent live song and great sing along. It’s catchy as hell and would do quite well on radio probably. Not their best song, but definitely a good addition to this album. Great rock song!
When I Breathe
Probably my favorite song on the album. This is basically an alternative pop/rock song with some splendid hooks and outstanding vocals. It can easily meet up with more popular acts like Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox Twenty, Michelle Branch and Evan & Jaron. This song is really very good and if you listen how well everything fits together you can only appreciate what Avion produced. Whether you like it or not. I do!
Love Is Here Again
Love Is Here Again has an interesting piano melody which makes the vocals come out well in this slightly darker song. The band builds up the song very well, but it doesn’t come to the explosion of sound I was hoping for. The song is good, but I believe it could’ve been even better.
The Best Is Yet To Come
The album closer, The Best Is Yet To Come is another good song. The strong and catchy pop/rock song could be a hit single for sure. The raspy, emotional vocals and the tight drums combined with some great guitar hooks put together a song that can reach many people with the right promotion.
Le Pont Neuf
The bonus track Le Pont Neuf gives us a different side of Avion. A French side to be exact. It’s a nice addition, but the position as a bonus track was a right decision I believe. Bertrand’s French is better than the stereotype American French, but the band doesn’t convince as much as they do with their English songs. Nice bonus though.
Avion releases an album with radio-friendly pop-rock music that appeals to the masses. It’s very mainstream and can be used in different media formats. The difference with many contemporary pop bands is that the songwriting and lyricism is very carefully constructed and the band really is a unity of quality musicians and not a hush hush pop band that is thrown together for radio success only. There’s a slight alternative edge to some of the songs, but you can really hear that Avion is about the music and frontman/singer/songwriter Steve Bertrand is one of their biggest assets. In the jungle of modern pop/rock bands, Avion is an oasis of talent that we should cherish.