Sure Conviction - 54 and Change
Are You There?
I Can't Explain
I Need You
Thru The Night/More Than A Feeling
Where Do You Go?
Sacrifice
Change
Quiet Place
The Journey
Power Of One
Label: Get Ready Records
Year: 1997
Producer: Sure Conviction
Total Playing Time: 50:07 m:s
I knew absolutely nothing about Sure Conviction when this dropped through my letterbox. Opening the packaging and glancing at the group photo on the back cover, I thought I'd let myself in for a grunge/alternative-rock ordeal. Well, I guess I learned something that day (you shouldn't judge a book CD by it's cover), because when I put this in the CD player, I was very pleasantly surprised. Sure Conviction is a Melodic Rock band. Of the CDs reviewed this month, this one arrived last and was stuck at the bottom of the pile not getting that much attention. That was a mistake on my part.
I've now done a bit more research and I've discovered that this is actually Sure Conviction's 3rd album. The name is a bit of clue, also the fact that they've got "In God We Trust" written on the CD in big bold writing, but it didn't register until I started listening to the lyrics that Sure Conviction are a Christian act. Their last album was in 1995 and there have been a few personnel changes, including the singer, since then.
The style on this album is punchy AOR, with a few hints at a harder edged sound floating around. In the comparison stakes Heart and Pat Benetar spring to mind. The Josette album I reviewed earlier in the year is maybe a closer comparison because it has a rawer edge to it. SC's vocalist is male, so imagine any of those acts with a few testosterone injections. The album has a loose, natural feel to it, which is actually refreshing. I'd like to hear the vocals a bit more up front, but that's only nit picking on my part.
Are You There?, I Can't Explain, Where Do You Go?, Changes & Quiet Place all fit in with the above description. Thru The Night/More Than A Feeling is lightweight rock. I Need You is a power ballad. Sacrifice & The Journey both see the band adopting a more aggressive stance and rocking out. The final piano led ballad, The Power Of One, has hints of Pomp and keeps me listening right to the end. Top tune? Well, it's got to be either Are You There? or The Power Of One.
Sure Conviction prove that Mr Beelzebub doesn't have all the good tunes.
Rating: 8
