Just as the music charts are about to explode with a multitude of lukewarm rock bands pushing their way to the top such as Three Doors Down and Train, the Los Angeles band The Calling hopes there is room at the top for one more as it releases its new CD, “Camino Palmero.”
The five-piece band attributes its decadent rock sound to the members’ upbringing in the Los Angeles area, citing their jaded lyrics developed from their childhood, which lacked the usual dreams children have of Hollywood and stardom.
Most of the album’s songs focus on “the demilitarized zone between two human hearts,” according to the band’s press release. In other words, “Camino Palmero” should serve as a decent break-up album.
The band consists of vocalist Alex Band, guitarists Aaron Kamin and Sean Woolstenhulme, bassist Billy Mohler, and drummer Nate Wood.
Music fans may already be familiar with the “Camino Palmero” single because it was featured in a scene from last year’s bar flick, “Coyote Ugly.” “Wherever You Will Go” features vocalist Band’s obsessive yearnings following an ex-lover through life after a relationship is ended.
The most comparable mainstream band is Fuel, but the song’s lyrics are lacking in substance and fail to support the lead singer’s vocal energy.
Another song on “Camino Palmero,” featuring a broken relationship is “Could It Be Any Harder,” beginning with Band chanting: “fade away.” The sound is eerily reminiscent of the moody vocals of ’80s gothic/rock band Bauhaus and their former lead singer, Peter Murphy. It is shameful that most of The Calling’s songs couldn’t contain more original lyrics than cliché lines such as “Could it be any harder to say good-bye and without you” that prevent Band’s vocal talent from shining.
Slightly better “Stigmatized” begins as a reflective acoustic ballad of undying love that displays the group’s ability to move beyond the hard guitars and beats. Sadly, the song falls back to a comfort zone of hard rock before fans can fully digest the sweet respite.
The album’s best track, “Adrienne” has a nice acoustic intro, features specific and interesting lyrics, louder guitars, and of course Band’s pleading voice. When Band vows, “What I’m needing now (is) some sweet revenge to get back all that I lost then” the genuine feelings escape from his voice to propel this song above the other tracks. This song properly showcases the potential of The Calling to become the next modern rock band to get their 15 minutes of fame in the ever-changing music landscape of today.
“Camino Palmero” may fall short when it comes to inciting a rock fan frenzy, but The Calling does have heavy guitars and a great vocalist in Band to keep the record from failing. Despite The Calling’s mediocrity, the group has arrived at the perfect time in the music scene. Many rock fans will clench on to the group’s atmospheric guitars and their image as jaded Los Angeles rockers.
