The Steve Palmer band makes their “American Rock” debut with Apparition. The album was wad recorded In Nashville with co-producer David Huff (former member of Giant, famous producer, father of up and coming pop diva Ashyne Huff, etc.). The band Palmer has assembled here is pretty tight as well, looking far from what the image conscious music scene looks like nowadays but sounding amazing on track after track. The band have a very down-to-earth feel about them, much like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers or a band like Kansas, without sounding much like either of them. These guys write songs that make you feel like they are YOUR hometown boys.
The album is a pretty slick mix of modern commercial sounding rock and slightly grittier, seventies style numbers. The opening number, “Living on the Streets,” puts the band’s best foot forward and is certainly one of the highlights here. It has a really common sense feel to it and a tremendously even keel. I usually wouldn’t get hung up on tempo but this is one of the things the band does best throughout the album, they never sound rushed or liking they are taking too damn long. The title track is another highlight in haunting sort of way, something about Palmer’s voice works well with this track in particular. Other highlights includes the grittier sound of “Her Own Place” and the up tempo “Nothin’ to Do.”
Overall, this is a solid rock album. What’s going to make or break everything for listeners here is Steve Palmer’s voice. You will either love it or hate it; I doubt that they’ll be a lot of middle ground. It will definitely be what piques your interest when the album starts rolling out but it may also be what turns you away. It doesn’t quite seem to fit the music but I find that that’s what kind of draws me to it personally. If you enjoy good mid-tempo Americana rock and roll then you should at least check out Steve Palmer Band’s Apparition.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
