Search - Hollies :: Staying Power

Doesnt Stick to the ears..

Somewhere in Texas | Planet Texas | 03/20/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was hoping this would be a great comeback CD, but it fails to impress me.



While there are many strong songs here this album doesn't quite sound like classic Hollies. Peter Howarth has a pleasant and strong voice, but just can't match Allan Clarke's distinctiveness that made the Hollies harmonies soar to the sky. Without Clarke the Hollies wind up sounding like any other Adult Contemporary pop band. (I'm reminded of the Little River Band or America, sorry)



Like so many of the Hollies recordings since 1983's "What Goes Around" the biggest problem is everything is smothered in bland "cheesy" keyboard arrangements and programming. Some of the keyboard sounds are very dated sounding. I doubt anytime during this recording the Hollies were playing in the same room together. During the 60's and 70's The Hollies were a guitar based group first that recorded most of their 60's and 70's recordings "live" in the studio with little overdubbing.



Compared to their older albums "Staying Power" doesn't rock very hard either and plays it too radio-friendly safe. The songs have nice hooks but wind up sounding too generic and bland. I heard the band is working on a new album soon, so I hope they crank up the guitars and really work on making the vocals sounding close to classic Clarke-Hicks-Nash/Sylvester for next time.



I suggest checking out the sound samples here before purchasing. That the CD also has copyright protection to keep you from copying it on your PC doesn't help my opinion either, though I doubt the Hollies had any say on that. Hold down your shift key when putting the CD in to keep it from auto-booting the protecting program, and then "rip" it to Mp3's.



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