CD Review – Red – Innocence And Instinct
With the widespread success and appeal of Red’s debut CD, End Of Silence, – and the exceptionally long wait that has followed it – many of us were wondering if they could pull off another smash with their second. Is it possible for lightning to strike twice?
Oh, Yeah!
Red’s sophomore release, Innocence And Instinct, is everything a Red-head could ask for. The guitar work is incredibly well layered with just enough hooks to catch the listeners attention without becoming a distraction from the lyrics. String arrangements and piano add a texture to the music that enhance Michael Barnes’ emotionally wrought vocals. Back it all up with hammering percussion and bass lines and you’ll be feeling this CD as much as hearing it.
As the title might imply, the message of Innocence and Instinct seems to be one of overcoming the internal struggles within us all. While songs like Fight Inside, Death Of Me, and Shadows may draw on the darkness of those battles, there is hope found in Start Again, the balladesque Never Be The Same and their cover of Duran Duran’s Ordinary World. The CD ends on a rather intriguing note with the soulful ballad turned power ballad Take It All Away as we’re left to question the outcome of it all.
I have to say the thing I love about this CD is that you can tell it’s Red. You know their style, their unique sound, and it comes across loud and clear. But this is also the only not so good thing about the CD. There are a lot of borrowed riffs from End Of Silence on this CD. Still I give it a solid 4 stars. Unquestionably a must have for the hard rock affectionado. And if you’re a Red-head… Do I need to tell you to go out and get it?
