by Angela Hail, Oklahoma Correspondent

I popped in this CD, having no idea what I was in for.  I had never heard of The Believers.  That problem, thankfully, has now been rectified.  I can tell you that I was hooked from the very first track, and completely floored by the last.  Fronted by founding members Craig Aspen and Cyd Frazzini, this band is an amazing mix of rock n’ roll, bluegrass, old country and something twisted up in between.  Craig Aspen is quoted on their website as saying, “We’ve always considered ourselves a rock band with a country problem.”  Whatever you call it, The Believers have created a sound both unique and so musically fundamental that nearly anyone with a pulse and a little soul will connect. 

Lucky You, the band’s third album, kicks off with “Higher Ground,” a floor stomping harmonic groove that sounds like the most rocking spiritual you’ve ever heard.  With a shredding electric guitar as their witness, Cyd and Craig send the message on up, getting you out of your chair and moving.  This song won’t let you sit still.

The CD then moves through the poppier “I’m Only Dreaming,” and the title track, “Lucky You,” which is a solid rock song that could easily be a main stream radio hit.

The fourth song, “Mother Nature,” has a mellow road-travellin’ vibe with a social message.  With lyrics like, “I don’t believe in foreign oil but I got miles to drive… But I believe in Mother Nature, I don’t wanna hurt no one,” it’s a contemplative song that hints at our society’s inconsistencies while calling for a shedding of our social issues in favor of a more big-picture focus.

Track five made me (literally) drop everything I was doing.  Cyd sings alone on this cover of Judas Priest’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” essentially transforming the familiar rock tune and giving it a shadowy, sexy vibe that I never quite heard in the original.  Acoustic guitar gives way to a searing electric.  The bass drums are cavernous.  Intense and ambient, this cover is a testament to the band’s heavy rock roots.

“Read It & Weep” slows everything down while Cyd sits front and center again on this acoustic ballad of heartbreak and letting go.  It’s a beautiful, yet painful song that deals with leaving an abusive relationship: “I don’t care you didn’t mean to – another promise you can’t keep.”

“Who’s Your Baby Now” shows that Cyd Frazzini could have a successful modern country career if she ever got the rock n’ roll out of her bloodstream.  “Your Hurting Ways,” the eight track on the album, is another strong duet between Cyd and Craig showcasing the band’s signature sound and is followed up by the pure twang of “Ring, Ring, Ring.”

This dynamic rollercoaster ride ends with a song called “The Day the Circus Left Town.”  It’s a slow, sauntering tune with the occasional creepy carnival music haunting the background.  “Pack it up, tear it down, and beat it on down the line”–this song feels like the end of the day; the perfect finale for an absolutely stellar album.  I’ve never been much of a country fan, but I am definitely a believer. 

Band website – http://www.thebelieversusa.com

Myspace page – http://www.myspace.com/thebelieversmusic

Where readers can buy the CD and/or download tracks – http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/believers4  or http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lucky-you/id287137584

This entry was posted on Monday, July 19th, 2010 at 11:50 pm and is filed under CD Reviews, Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.