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Ghost Canyon

Title - 'More Than Just A Dream' (Elektra)
Artist - Fitz and The Tantrums

On their Elektra Records debut, Fitz and The Tantrums have actually steered themselves away from the timeless Motown song craft that delivered so welcomingly on their 2010 breakthrough, Pickin' Up The Pieces.

And yet still including solar charged back-and-forth musical barbs between co-lead vocalists Fitz and Noelle Scaggs, combined with the tour de force of The Tantrums themselves, the follow-up album is still chock full of some very strong numbers. Some of them true standouts.

The first song, the chirpy 'Out of My League' gets us off to a good start, the anthemia fist-pumpin' of 'Break The Walls' good, but formulaic. It's actually the next track, 'The Walker' that gets us closer to what I expected to hear from this great band. A fun vibe of a song, incorporating some Deee-Lite vibe for good measure, it is one of the highlights of the album.

'Out Of My League' Official Music Video!

Next up is the generic 'Spark,' and although it has bounce it just seems to fall short of what this band could do. The vibrant pop bounce of '6am' gets us back on track in style, and is probably (for my money) the best track to be heard. The beautiful musical sway of 'Fools Gold' is next and bleeds wonderfully into 'Keeping Our Eyes Out.'

'Last Raindrop' with its foot stomping upbeat vibe is next, and is backed by the industrial pop slog of 'House On Fire.' Then comes a track that personifies Fitz and The Tantrums perfectly, 'The End.' The album then comes to a close with the heavier funk of 'Get Away' and the lazier thematic chant of 'MerryGoRound'.

In truth, their retro soul sound appealed more to me, and this new album is a little too much over-produced. Sure deep, meaningful lyrics are not what this band is about, and catchy melodies, sing-a-long choruses and undeniable hooks are. It just seems that their change of direction wasn't what was required or requested of them, and that in itself might just affect sales, sadly.

Reviewed by: Russell A. Trunk

www.fitzandthetantrums.com

www.elektra.com

If you would like to win a copy of this fab new CD, just answer this question about Fitz: What is his REAL (full) name?!

Send us your answers and if you're correct you'll be in the running to win one of these new CDs! Just send us an e:mail here before July 1st with your answer and the subject title CONTEST: FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS CDs to: exclusivemagazine@flash.net





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