New York’s Falconeers dive headfirst into a nostalgic soundscape with their latest release, Volume One. This double album, featuring a hefty nineteen tracks, is a clear homage to the 70s, '80s, and early '90s rock era.
The band isn’t shy about their influences, drawing heavily from the likes of The Who, Journey, The Eagles, and many other legends. They make no attempt to update their sound for contemporary audiences, and perhaps that is some of their appeal. The album opens with a series of mid-energy rock songs that set the tone for what’s to come.
Each track is well-crafted, sticking to familiar 4/4 time signatures, major and minor chords, a guitar solo, outro, etc. There’s a sense of comfort in their adherence to classic rock architecture. The melodies are catchy and easy to sing along to by the second hook, and many songs aim for an epic, power ballad vibe, often bordering on rock opera territory. However, this adherence to tried-and-true formulas is both a strength and a weakness.
While the album maintains a cohesive emotional resonance and impressive performances, it also lacks moments that felt novel. By the time you reach the end, the songs begin to blend together almost like I was listening to a “greatest hits” album from a band I knew and didn’t know at the same time. It felt like audio Déjà vu.
Falconeers’ Volume One is an album steeped in rock 101 clichés and tropes, spread generously across its extensive tracklist, which I did find enjoyable. For purists and fans of the era, this will be a nostalgic trip worth taking. The band is off to a good start, but I would love to hear them get a little more out of their comfort zone on subsequent releases.
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