LoudLife: Buzz

I can't believe this is an independent band. There's something seriously wrong with the music business if people aren't paying attention to this band. This ten song CD is one of the best releases that I've heard in a long time and, the beauty of it is the fact that Loudlife has a fresh and original sound...at least in my opinion. They mention a Soundgarden meets Led Zepplin sound in their bio. If that works for you...great...more power to you. Personally, I wouldn't name drop any other band when trying to describe Loudlife because, in all honesty, they don't need to do that because, from what I heard, the music is strong enough to stand by itself. Who do they sound like??? They sound like their own band and that's the biggest compliment I can give any band. After all, in this day and age, everything's been done before. The only way a band can rise above everyone else out there is to take something that you've heard before...and make it different. I think Loudlife has accomplished that...and then some. I don't like to go beyond a simple description when I'm talking about a band...and it doesn't matter who I'm talking about. When it comes to Loudlife...my first impression, which is usually the one I go with, would be to call them a modern hard rock band that goes a bit heavy at times. Lorraine Ferro is a powerful vocalist. I listen to...and enjoy...a lot of female singers. Lorraine has a set of pipes that can bury them all...I kid you not. Go to their MySpace page and listen to "Let Go Of The Wheel" and you'll see what I'm talking about. This is one of my favorite tracks on this release. Nothing more needs to be said other than it's a kick ass song. I'm also rather fond of "Far Below The Surface," which is another great track that stood out for me. Another thing that caught my attention was the production, which was, in a word, excellent. Someone clearly knew what they were doing behind the scenes. If you're looking for something new, something good, something that will entertain you while kicking your ass...you don't have to look any further than Loudlife. Listen to this disc from start to finish one time...that's all it will take to turn you into a fan. At the end of the year when I try to come up with my top ten albums of the year..this one's gonna be on that list. No doubt about it. Do yourself a favor and check them out...NOW!

LOUD LIFE is a two person band consisting of Lorraine Ferro & Geoff Sobel. Lorraine based out of NYC & Geoff based out of China. These two collaborate across the globe & combine a 70's Classic Rock sound with a 90's Grunge Alternative sound. The music has a strong even balance of the above two styles all the way through. It's as if a female version of SOUNDGARDEN collided with LED ZEPPELIN. This is a unique & original sound that I can't really recall hearing before. The two bring such powerful dynamics together & do a great job of blending their sounds well together!
www.LOUDLIFEband.com

Following in the footsteps of acts such as No Doubt, Paramore and Flyleaf we get another female fronted rock act that knows how to roll. "Step Away" contains some amazing lyrics where the vocals simply shine. The music arrangement is also pretty phenomenal with some quirky electronic sounds, gripping guitar work and intense percussion. A soft lofty song "Icarus" is a brilliant musical thrill ride soaring you to new heights. The totally slow intro of "Tomorrow's Ground" blossoms into an amazing piece of work featured by flavorful backing vocals, serene guitar work, easy bass lines and light percussion. When all is said and done, this is definitely a worth while album to rock out too.

The roughness of the rock that Loudlife comes up with for the opening of their CD is something that follows from 37 Special and leads through Every Mother’s Nightmare and Cinderella into something that is new but with a lot of history behind it. The vocals of Lorraine Ferro during this disc are at least as strong as furious as the guitar work that screams in the background, which makes this band a great match for each other.

This is not to say that the only setting for Loudlife is loud and obnoxious, but tracks like “Tear In The Curtain” show that Geoff’s guitar can take a distinct Slash role to Lorraine’s Axl if need be. Aside from the more classic brands of rock that influence Loudlife, there seems to be quite a few links made to the current rock hitmakers, specifically to Velvet Revolver and Queens of the Stone Age. “Far Below The Surface” is yet another iteration in the ride of different styles of Loudlife. Present throughout all the tracks on this self-titled LP is the soulful and sultry vocals of Loudlife. Why exactly the band has not broken it big as of this moment is something that boggles me, but perhaps after this album gets into the right hands justice will be done. What is exciting about Loudlife is that a track like “Step Away” can take the style of an act like Kittie while Lorraine’s vocals keep their specific sound. Each of the tracks on this album could be transferred to rock radio without a problem; it is really Geoff’s ear for arrangements that makes tracks like “Step Away” into such darlings for listeners.

There really is no limit to the amount of styles that Geoff can pull out for a track, as the aforementioned “Step Away” takes into consideration actions like Coal Chamber, Kittie and Aerosmith before chewing them up and spitting them into a distinctly different style. Three-forths of an hour of music awaits listeners, and this is only on the first listen. There is no doubt that listeners will be able to throw this in their car and give it another few spins. Here’s to hoping that Loudlife is given the break that they need; all that one needs to listen to to be eternally a fan is the dual-vocal harmonies of “Cradle to Crypt”. Always radio-friendly but never sellouts, Loudlife is a band for any true rock fan.

. This is a band where to truly understand them and feel what they are bringing to the table you need to be there, watching Vocalist/Lyricist Lorraine Ferro sweat and writhe as she belts these songs out with her husky vibrato voice. Unfortunately considering I don't live in their home of New York City, which as I understand is the only place they have ever played one of their live shows, I have to judge based on their self-titled release.

Consisting of the vocal powerhouse of Ferro, Loudlife's other half lays within Guitarist Geoff Sobel who brings the riffs inspired from several genres of rock. Bassist Teddy Kumpel and Drummer Brian Dunne round out the rhythm seemingly only to provide a groundwork for Ferro and Sobel to dominate alternately. The first track, "Let Go of the Wheel" has a classic rock approach where the vocal introduction to Ferro makes you understand that whiskey and cigarettes can have a sexy effect. From there on the band seems to take you on a roadtrip through elements of rock, folk, and grunge using Ferro as the driver and Sobel as the car. My favorite song on the disc is track 9, "Turn the Page Over" because Sobel brings the crunch and Ferro almost has the ferocity of an early 90's Riot Grrl before bringing it back down again.

I just feel like I'm missing something here. The songs are well arranged, the driving guitar is perfectly suitable to the music, and Ferro can not only write a decent song but can really follow through with it with her amazing gravel voice, so what is missing? I believe wholeheartedly that whatever it is was lost on the way to the stage. As good as these songs are I can tell that they can never be truly great unless heard in person. The power of Ferro's voice is obvious on the CD but if I were to walk into a Loudlife show without knowing what I was in for, I can imagine I'd walk out thinking she had bewitched me into thinking she's the second coming of Grace Slick. There's a power to live shows that recordings can't capture and I believe that it's this power that Loudlife needs in order to truly be appreciated in the way they'd like to face the world.

For an independent CD this album from the New York based LOUDLIFE sounds very impressive. Especially female lead singer LORRAINE FERRO has got a fantastic voice, which sounds like she is like a very well-known singer, meaning that it sounds just amazing. In the USA she sang on National TV and Radio spots, but also sang with RITCHIE BLACKMORE of RAINBOW. Lorraine is one of those singers of whom we will be hearing A LOT MORE in the near future, because she easily beats with her voice any of the top 40 female singers. It’s like JANIS JOPLIN starts singing like JOAN JETT, so a really raw Rock voice is what to expect here instead of the childish singing of most female singers out there! Musically LOUDLIFE go in a sort of Classic Rock meets heavy Bluesrock meets Melodic Rock direction, sometimes reminding me of SASS JORDAN and ALANNAH MYLES, although comparisons to CINDERELLA and BADLANDS would be better. 10 songs are included on the band’s debut CD, which has it’s highlights in songs like “Tear in the curtain”, “Cradle to crypt” and “Icarus”. Although the first song is a very calm track, the rest rocks big time, very bluesy Classic Hardrock orientated, sort of a female version of FREE/BAD COMPANY/LED ZEPPELIN… Just listen to the groovy “May I print” and you would swear this is a cover of those bands! Check out this band asap at: http://www.loudlifeband.com

Loudlife sounds like a cross between Soundgarden and Evanescence, but the heavy Zep influence and good songwriting discourages me from lumping them in with the grunge or nu-metal crowd. I should probably hate this, but after all these years, deep down in me remains that yearning for thick, muddy Zeppelin riffs and overdramatic 70s rock. Loudlife hits that nerve with sincere, passionate playing, bottom-of-the-well guitar and bass, and good female vox that could probably pass for those high-pitched 70s male-fronted rock gods anyway. Although downkey to murky depths, the music doesn't turn into sludge; instead, the songwriting and soaring vox keep the music bright and catchy.

Female fronted Loudlife bring back the spirit of Heart and kick it up a notch with powerful and enduring vocals, meaty riffs, and memorable songs. I heard a band similar to this called Halestorm, but they’re just a small flurry compared to Loudlife

Mmm. Deep, substantial, ground-shaking power rock. I’ve missed you deeply.

[8.8.06]
The endless ramblings that could ensue from the sounds produced by LoudLife’s self-titled debut could possibly become excessive to the point of being painful. That’s how much I have been waiting for an album like this. So I’ll try to keep my gushing to a minimum, and to stay as objective as possible, if you promise to bear with me.

With that said, there’s something deeply, inexpressibly satisfying about a rock album with a good foundation. No matter how excellent the vocals, the lyrics, or the guitar solos, nothing beats the deep vibrations of outstanding bass, blended with perfectly supportive percussion. It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing. LoudLife has utilized it perfectly. Their strong rhythm section blends seamlessly into every song to create an amazing deep, rich sound that’s just…delicious. “Tear in the Curtain,” for one of many examples, builds up a heavy, dynamic groove that pounds itself into your skull almost instantly. And that’s for starters.

But what really gives LoudLife’s debut its impressive power are its fantastic, powerful vocals. Lorraine Ferro exhibits range, control, and energy that have been likened to that of Chris Cornell (although as much as I love the album and her voice, it’s hard to match up to Chris in my book.) She gives the album its raw edge and occasionally haunting qualities, as with “Far Below the Surface”, which ranges from soft to gritty and emotional. Similarly, “Cradle to Crypt” has an almost ethereal sound with Ferro’s delicate, light vocal control. Interestingly, they name one of their influences as Evanescence, yet LoudLife seems to top that band ten times over. With their predominantly 90s grunge and 70s rock influences, they seem to have the broad, sweeping sounds reminiscent of the 80s—minus the occasionally over-the-top theatrics.

Granted, while Ferro’s amazing vocal exhibitions stand out as the strongest element of the album, the lead guitar is nothing to scoff at either. They come to an almost psychotic out-of-control release towards the end of “Let Go Of The Wheel”, and carry a strong riff throughout “Step Away” that becomes almost (but not quite) air-guitar worthy in the chorus.

I really can’t complain. The album is well-blended, with the occasional less-intense (but no less energetic) track, and little tidbits of exoticism and mystery, it has grandeur without pretentiousness, and it’s memorable. Go listen. I encourage—nay—I demand it.

CD OF THE WEEK 19th July:
One of my favourite albums of 2006 so far. Fronted by the powerful vocals of Lorraine Ferro, Loudlife bring us 10 brilliant melodic rock tunes. Track 5 - Cradle to Crypt, has been left in the CD player on repeat, sometimes for an hour at a time... it really is that good! If you don’t check this CD out, then damn you, you will be sorry!!! Go directly to: www.loudlifeband.com .....do it now!

"Loudlife is a local rock band that features dark guitar riffs by Geoff Sobel and the over-the-top vocals of Lorraine Ferro. Ferro's been called the female Chris Cornell, but we see her as more of a poor man's Ann Wilson, which is saying something."

“A no-frills in-your-face powerhouse performance. There were no gimmicks here...brought the crowd to whooping roar.”

“A highly original duo...axeman Sobel laid down a thick bed of crunchy, detuned metal riffs, over which vocalist/percussionist Lorraine Ferro showcased her astonishingly powerful voice. Ferro, who also captured the audience with her dynamic presence and rhythmic stage gyrations, sings with a voice that has to be heard live to truly be appreciated. She absolutely ripped through the set, and combined with Sobel’s guitar and competant backing vocals, the two put on a big-time, ass-kickin’ rock show.”

“Rootsy NYC songstress has chops and hooks”

“One of the highlights of the night was when Lorraine Ferro & Geoff Sobel performed Led Zeppelin's No Quarter...not only did they pull it off, they really moved everyone.”

“An arena-size sound highlighted by Ferro’s quivering Grace Slick vibrato.”

“...a musical hurricane creating exquisite chaos...

“On some songs you can almost feel your chest tightening...Lorraine has a great voice...I fell in love with the songwriting...great use of words, and intelligent arrangements”

“... the throaty blues of Joan Osborne with the catchy choruses of Sheryl Crow...Catch Lorraine Ferro live, she’s fierce; she rocks and commands attention....her band is an in-the-groove, dynamic love affair of song, spirit and delicate thunder.” rating - A

“I entered a standing room only Zen Den (filled to capacity and then some!) to catch the last couple of songs by Lorraine Ferro who played gutsy rock.”