CRYSTAL PROJECT – Crystal Project (2CD Complete Recordings 89/92)
CRYSTAL PROJECT a is NY state band that never make it big but listening the quality of their recordings comprised in this Double Volume album they certainly deserved major exposure.
Active between 1989 & 1993, the group never achieved a major label recording contract despite of having recorded several own compositions pretty professionally.
But never is too late. The band re-grouped some time ago to perform live once again to support the release of this Anthology: “Crystal Project Complete Recordings 89/92“.
Crystal Project started with the name Hearsay in 1988. The first Volume here includes all the recordings under this moniker, listed chronologically.
So we have the first set of songs tracked down in 1989: “Silence”, “Jessica” and “Always”. All are very good rockin’ AOR tunes influenced by Journey and Prophet, heavily infused with keyboards.
At the very beginning of 1990 a 2nd set of songs were recorded, again with good amounts of synths as heard on the amazing “No More Waiting” and “Make You Mine”. However on “I’m In Love” we can hear a more Melodic Rock approach and vocalist David Lindland singing in full potential.
At the end of the same year, they recorded “Without You” a song that strongly resembles Canadians Triumph. Other tracks from the same session definitively sports a Melodic Hard attack and prominent guitars such as the catchy “On My Way” and the ballad-esque “There For You”.
Then the group decided to change its name to Crystal Pistol. Volume II of this anthology comprises the recordings of this new era.
“Never Again” and “Suzie”, both ’91 recorded, showcases the band’s sound evolving into a Melodic Hard Rock in the Damn Yankees style with nice hooks and strong guitars.
The last two tracks ever recorded by the band “Let It Go” and “Rhyme Or Reason” (1992) were produced by Terry Brown (Rush, Cutting Crew).
As bonus track, there’s a new song performed live titled “Down Inside”, never recorded into the studio.
Crystal Project (formerly Crystal Pistol but changed to ‘Project’ due the recent Canadian band of the same name) had it all: strong Melodic Rock / AOR songs, solid musicianship, a management and a publishing deal… but the recording contract never came.
Call it bad luck or the change of the musical climate, but certainly the band got the fire and the determination. And now they see all their recordings finally published.
“Crystal Project” is a darn fine slice of American Melodic Rock / AOR from the golden Eighties / early Nineties, very well recorded and performed. It’s Out Of Print now, with private copies being sold for over $ 140.
Very, HIGHLY Recommended
Volume I
01 – Silence
02 – Jessica
03 – Always
04 – No More Waiting
05 – I’m In Love
06 – Make You Mine
07 – Without You
08 – On My Way
09 – Real Lovin’
10 – There For You
Volume II
01 – What Id Rather Be
02 – I Believe
03 – Never Again
04 – Suzie Bloom
05 – Another Night Alone
06 – Heart Of Stone
07 – Mr. Wonderful
08 – We Do!
09 – Let It Go
10 – Rhyme Or Reason
11 – Down Inside (Live) [bonus track]
Dave Lindland – Lead Vocals
Tom Walsh – Guitar, Vocals
Steve Chams – Keyboards, Vocals
Rennie Xosa – Bass
Barry Nagel – Drums
Try Here:
www.amazon.com/Crystal-Project/dp/B005QG24EI
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