CHARLIE GIARDINA – Dreamland (2018)
Perhaps some of you remember the self-titled album by Flamedown posted here at the blog some time ago, a sweet AOR band. Well, one of the founder members, bass player, vocalist and producer CHARLIE GIARDINA is releasing his solo debut “Dreamland“, featuring some amazing session musicians such as Bruce Gaitsch (Chicago / Richard Marx), Michael Thompson (Michael Bolton), Leland Sklar (Phil Collins, Toto), Herman Furin (Work Of Art drummer), among others.
Charlie Giardina is a well known Argentinian session musician, basically bass player and vocalist. Established in UK since the beginning of 2000’s to learn about production, he has played on many international recordings such as Tor Tolle’s Northern Light or Watchmen and worked with Bruce Kulick and Eric Martin.
Together with his brother (musician as well) formed Hardway in 2001, an AOR project which recorded 2 critically acclaimed demos with collaboration from master Mark Spiro among others. And of course, the mentioned Flamedown album.
“Dreamland” is inspired, musically and in terms of songwriting, in late ’80s / early 90s Melodic Rock / AOR with references to Foreigner, TOTO, Michael Thompson Band, etc. mixing some uptempo melodic rockers like the dynamic ‘Back to Life’ (nice backing vocals and guitar work), ‘Time’ which brings to mind Swedes Work Of Art, and the driving ‘Stop the World’ with its strong riff / harmony vocals
Giardina owns a vocal tone similar to Jon Bon Jovi – just more AOR oriented, and fits nicely on lighter numbers like ‘Don’t Give up the Hope’, the 1994-Journey- ‘Feels Like Rain’ or the TOTOish midtempo ‘Underground’.
For ballads check ‘Angels from Heaven’, including fine pianos and acoustic guitar courtesy of Bruce Gaistch, a song that reminds me of It’s Just The Rain, the great song from Journey’s album Trial By Fire.
Solid songwriting, very good instrumentation and fine production wraps Charlie Giardina’s debut ‘Dreamland’, a sweet mix of classic AOR / Melodic Rock.
The album has that famous ‘LA Session’ feel of yesteryear, and all the skilled musicians involved elevates the quality here.
Highly Recommended
01 – Back to Life
02 – Don’t Give up the Hope
03 – Feels Like Rain
04 – Reaching for the Sky
05 – Time
06 – Stop the World
07 – Lift Away the Fear
08 – Angels from Heaven
09 – Blind Devotion
10 – Underground
Charlie Giardina – Lead Vocals, bass, programming
Bruce Gaitsch (Chicago, Richard Marx) – guitar
Michael Thompson (Michael Bolton) – guitar
Leland Sklar (Phil Collins, Toto) – bass
CJ Vanston (Steve Lukather, Eric Martin) – keyboards
Herman Furin (Work Of Art) – backing vocals
Magnus Midelf (Darren Phillips Project) – backing vocals
and more
BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Dreamland-Charlie-Giardina/dp/B07C73GV5G
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