If you can imagine Avril Lavigne fronting Mötley Crüe, you have a sense of where Damone is heading--and for listeners who favor melodic, high-revving power-pop, this is a fun, rocking journey worth taking. A yout... more »hful quartet out of Boston fronted by its lone female member, 20-year-old singer/guitarist Noelle, Damone burns through the dozen tracks on Out Here All Night (the group's second recording; its first with Mike Woods as guitarist and chief songwriter) at a manic pace. The band's compact songs (all but one clock in under four minutes) bristle with pounding, noisy energy, yet the melodies shine through the wall-of-racket production with a delectable, beguiling charm. Influences are far-ranging: AC/DC, the Go-Go's, the Ramones, the Runaways, Andrew W.K., Poison--even some soaring guitar salvos that bring to mind Queen's Brian May and Boston's Tom Scholz. (Sample, for instance, "Out of My Way.") The tone is forceful, but the mood is party-minded, not menacing. And while you'll find no revelations in the songs' lyrics, Noelle demonstrates a terrific vocal range that allows her to coo as effectively as she hollers (e.g., "You're the One"). Catchy stuff. --Terry Wood« less
If you can imagine Avril Lavigne fronting Mötley Crüe, you have a sense of where Damone is heading--and for listeners who favor melodic, high-revving power-pop, this is a fun, rocking journey worth taking. A youthful quartet out of Boston fronted by its lone female member, 20-year-old singer/guitarist Noelle, Damone burns through the dozen tracks on Out Here All Night (the group's second recording; its first with Mike Woods as guitarist and chief songwriter) at a manic pace. The band's compact songs (all but one clock in under four minutes) bristle with pounding, noisy energy, yet the melodies shine through the wall-of-racket production with a delectable, beguiling charm. Influences are far-ranging: AC/DC, the Go-Go's, the Ramones, the Runaways, Andrew W.K., Poison--even some soaring guitar salvos that bring to mind Queen's Brian May and Boston's Tom Scholz. (Sample, for instance, "Out of My Way.") The tone is forceful, but the mood is party-minded, not menacing. And while you'll find no revelations in the songs' lyrics, Noelle demonstrates a terrific vocal range that allows her to coo as effectively as she hollers (e.g., "You're the One"). Catchy stuff. --Terry Wood
Damian Saiz | Woburn, MA United States | 05/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Man, it's been 3 years since their first album, but it was well worth the looong wait for this poppy rocknroll gem. Their first cd was great, but a tad too clean sounding. The production on this one is soooo much better, like the band is actually playing on a stage in front of you. Way more punch and crunch to the guitars, even bringing back fond memories of old Poison albums, which is another way this album blows away their first. The Weezer type songs have made way for their total love of 80's rock to shine through. And shine it does. In spades, baby! They even cover Iron Maiden's classic song "Wasted Years", albeit acoustically, but to great and beautiful effect! Every other song rocks hard and comes through with total confidence and rocknroll swagger. Noelle's vocals are as always fantastic and the boys pound their instruments like it's 1987 all over again! Don't pass this one up peeps! Rock out now!"
The most fun you can have without waking up in a bathtub!
Randall Shatkowski | Northern Virginia | 05/31/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What is there to say? These guys are fun crammed into an audio format. Just about every song is brain-damaging, head-banging, pop metal goodness, a blend of the best elements of Poison, Motley Crue (guitarist Mike Woods even LOOKS like a clone of Nikki Sixx), and the more anthemic moments of, perhaps, Judas Priest. There isn't a single song that will take more than 2 or 3 listens to have you singing along at the top of your lungs, unaware you're standing in line at a hospital to get that bump on your head looked at.
Songs worthy of specific mention are "What We Came Here For", which is the best sing-along I've heard in well over a year, the unfairly catchy "Out Here All Night", which refuses to leave your head, the godlike riffs that propel "Out Of My Way", and the emotional, better-than-the-original acoustic cover of "Wasted Years". Not that any of the other songs are poor, but those 4 just blow the roof off.
As is that weren't enough, their live show overshadows even the CD. I caught them a couple days ago at HFStival near Baltimore, and you can tell that these guys (and girl) are having the time of their life. Cheesy poses, big goofy grins, and inspiring speeches to "forget that your mom threw out your porno stash" are all par for the course with Damone. Catch the excitement."
It's not complicated, people. . .
Jack Sanders | 05/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
". . .what you get here is, plain and simple, balls to the wall hard rock. If you want me to expand, I'd call it contemporary Joan Jett-type hard rock. And it's darn good. All of the songs are toe-tappingly good (especially "Now is the Time"), and I have to give a special mention to the acoustic cover of Iron Maiden's "Wasted Years." Using acoustic guitar and some light keyboarding (or is that a real string instrument?), Noelle's vocals on top, this all adds up to create a new dimension to one of my favorite Iron Maiden songs. This album is a real winner, especially for the $9.98 price. Buy it and have some hard-rockin' fun."
Teenage kicks
Mark Lomas | Perth, Western Australia | 11/18/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Damone seem to have happened upon the magic formula for making great uplifting rock and roll. Hard to believe they lost their main songwriter after the first album, you certainly can't tell. Some great riffs to be had too, and how often do you get to say that these days? I don't agree that the singer is an Avril Lavigne clone. Make your own mind up, but try not to tap your foot or bang your head to "Out here all night", surely the best rock song of the last few years. There is a real gang feel to this CD also, but in a good way. As in a group of people keen to ram home the same message. If only "hair metal" in the 80's was this good! I agree there is an 80's feel however, but it's partly due to the song quality and the lack of inclusion of current trends. By not trying to be cool, they seem to have come out the other side to be cool anyways. Damone makes me wish I was a teenager again, and that's gotta be the very essence of great rock and roll."