ANGEL – Sinful [Rock Candy remastered +2] (2019) *EXCLUSIVE*

ANGEL, one of the most representative acts from the early American pomp AOR scene, for their last studio album “Sinful” changed the musical focus to a more commercial FM-friendly style. Now it has been freshly remastered by Rock Candy Records, and the sound quality is top notch.

“Sinful” is just filled to the brim with great poppy/rockin’ songs. In fact, with this album Angel predated the hair metal movement by 4/5 years spicing the melodic & catchy melodies with late seventies hard rock undertones.
With the exception of the pompy “Wild And Hot” in the style of the band’s early period, the rest of the songs are balanced between rockers and radio oriented melodic tunes. Part of the songwriting secret was the fact that Gregg Giuffria, vocalist Frank Dimino, guitarist Punky Meadows and drummer Barry Brandt this time all contributed, in various combinations.
The feel of each song differed slightly depending on the writers who created it.

Opener “Don’t Take Your Love” is a sheer AOR track with crisp lead vocals, tin tight drumming and a commercial chorus layered with harmonies. Sturdier but eminently tuneful tracks like “L.A. Lady” and the proto hair metal numbers “Bad Time” and “Lovers Live On” bully their way into your face and mind with emphatic arrangements bringing up the guitars and using the keyboards as punctuation – carry these songs over the line with energy to spare.

The dynamic duo of “Just Can’t Take It” and “You Can’t Buy Love” are really melodic and with a clear adult FM orientation adding acoustic guitars, moog and even an electronic clapping machine.
Giuffria’s self-penned, embryonic symphonic ballad “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” is also worth mentioning, but my favorite on the album is without a doubt the pure AOR of “Waited A Long Time” whose style would be imitated by many in a near future.

A departure from their pompy / proggy origins, “Sinful” is the more accessible and radio friendly album by Angel, ironically their less popular and a commercial failure mostly due the scarce label support.
A shame, because despite its ‘easy listening’ this recording was ahead of its time showcasing the rock style to come in the US combining poppy melodies with hard rock = the pop metal / hair metal germ.
Excellent digital remaster by Rock Candy clear and pristine, with the addition of two worthwhile bonus tracks.
HIGHLY Recommended

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01 – Don’t Take Your Love
02 – L.A. Lady
03 – Just Can’t Take It
04 – You Can’t Buy Love
05 – Bad Time
06 – Waited Long Time
07 – I’ll Bring The Whole World To Your Door
08 – I’ll Never Fall In Love Again
09 – Wild And Hot
10 – Lovers Live On
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Virginia (Foxes Soundtrack)
12 – Walk Away Renee

Frank Dimino – vocals, background vocals
Punky Meadows – guitars, acoustic guitar
Gregg Giuffria – keyboards, programming
Felix Robinson – 6-string bass, background vocals
Barry Brandt – drums, percussion, background vocals

BUY IT
www.amazon.co.uk/Sinful-Angel/dp/B07W6CDN4P