WILD ADRIATIC – Big Suspicious (2014)

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Hailing from Saratoga Springs, New York, WILD ADRIATIC play a soulful style of rock and roll that harkens back to the ’70s / ’80s while still managing to sound fresh. I never heard their debut EP from two years ago, but boy, the band’s full length debut “Big Suspicious” certainly packs a serious punch.

Retro Classic Rock returned with force into the scene, and Wild Adriatic defends from the trenches the most pure 3-piece energetic blues-based hard rock bathed in accelerated soul grooves that amuse and revitalize.
“Big Suspicious” relentlessly shoots big riffs, rounded bass lines and kicking beats over Travis Gray’s passionate vocals. But they go further and add interesting, rich horn arrangements and delicious keyboards on some songs.
“Mess Around”, for example, is pure rock n ‘roll without complexes but flourished by stabbing trumpets that fit the trio sound’s perfectly.
I have to mention the big, valvular guitar sound and the pumping muscular riffs too, that, by the way, dominates the entire record.

Something similar is found in the hot opener “I Can’t Be Your Man” or the catchy, super cool “The Fool” which brings back the glorious, pure Classic Rock sounds. These two are real highlights.
There are many hooks to be found in tracks to come, like in the bluesy-fueled “Tight Grip” or “Lose My Mind”, and the midtempo, Hammond-B3 filled “40 Days 40 Nights (Hard Times)”, with some The Answer feeling on the melody.

“Cooperstown” is the more poppy, playful song on the album with a classic radio appeal (some early ’80s Cheap Trick on it), “Lose My Mind” is groovy, and then “Walk For Miles” visits the balladry territory with a very nice melody and some acoustics.
Songs like “Heavy Soul” and “Woe” are on another level, a different approach. They are aimed at those looking for something different in a retro band. The candy-floss piano and horn arrangements of the first lead to a memorable chorus, and the acoustically drive melody of the latter has a lot of soul on it, elevating the album to a higher quality.

“Big Suspicious” should raise eyebrows among classic rock lovers from the old-school and the new generation of fans.
Wild Adriatic plays with passion, uncontracted and with the feel-good factor as premise. But don’t be fooled, these are clever guys building their songs with a ‘radio appeal’ and a catchiness suitable for all ages.
Classic rock ‘n roll is alive and kickin’.
Very Recommended.

01 – I Can’t Be Your Man
02 – Mess Around
03 – The Fool
04 – 40 Days 40 Nights (Hard Times)
05 – Tight Grip
06 – Holding You
07 – Cooperstown
08 – Lose My Mind
09 – Walk For Miles
10 – Lonely
11 – Heavy Soul
12 – Woe

Travis Gray (vocals, guitar, keyboards)
Rich Derbyshire (bass)
Mateo Vosganian (drums, backing vocals)
with:
Scott Hannay (keyboards)
Dan Maddalone, Chris Weatherly (horns)
Dylan Sorensen (saxophone)
Meghan Gray, Maggie Goble, Pat Daley (backing vocals)

BUY IT !
wildadriatic.bigcartel.com/product/big-suspicious-cd
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