Album: Lucky Street
Artist: Go Radio
Release: 2011
Tracks: 14
Go Radio, though not as widely known as some other alternative bands, definitely has more than enough potential and skill to quickly rise in the ranks. Preceding Lucky Street, their first full-length album, were two EPs, Welcome To Life and Do Overs and Second Chances, as well as many other unofficially released tracks and demos. Started by Jason Lancaster, who carries on as vocalist and guitarist as he did in the band Mayday Parade, Go Radio also includes the talent of Alex Reed as guitarist and vocalist, Matt "Burns" Poulos as bassist, and Steven Kopacz as drummer. Together they form the captivating sound that we know as Go Radio.
Lucky Street begins with a track that makes any coastline-born person's heart race, with an introduction that includes sirens that are greatly reminiscent of tsunami warning sirens, as well as police and ambulance sirens thrown in to make the rest of the world listen in as well. Once you make it past the startling beginning, "Lucky Street", the album's title track, easily hooks you in with its open-for-interpretation lyrics of the chorus and intermittent guitar riffs withing the song. "Any Other Heart", the first single released off of the album about three weeks prior, dives straight into vocals and a guitar beat that sets the tone for the song. The chorus brings in the drums and a more noticeable bass sound, and the bridge has a unique sound that almost seems to be slightly distorted by water. The song ends explosively, setting the stage nicely for the next track. "Singing With the King", has a title that hints at something related to Elvis, and not being ones to disappoint, Go Radio has mentioned the King within the chorus of the song, after each verse that uses the drums and guitar to keep the beat. The bridge seems to cut off from the rest of the song, re-introducing the softer sound heard briefly at the beginning of the song, and flowing back into the final chorus, which cuts of dramatically. Kicking off with a powerful guitar and drum pairing, "Strength to Stay" presents a feeling that almost seems to be resenting, and a chorus with a mysterious vibe due to the vocals. The bridge seems to be decisive, backed with minor guitar riffs then continuing through an interlude into the last portion of the song until the quieter ending. "Swear It Like You Mean It" starts with a beautiful piano solo and softer chorus-style melody being carried over it, giving the illusion of a mellow song. The verses and chorus, however, prove that assumption wrong in a pleasing way, where the words blend in perfectly with the instruments until the momentary return of the piano in the bridge. The last chorus provides a slight variation on the vocals, which cut off to make room for the next song on the album. A true mellow song to follow the illusion of one, "Why I'm Home" is a re-recorded single that had been released near the beginning of Go Radio's career as a band, and the remakes refuses to disappoint. With the addition of strings and a clearer recording than the original, this song has a powerful chorus that carries perfectly with the melody set by the piano and the somber mood of the song. "Kill the Beast" gives a slight warning that the silence will soon explode with a four-count given by the drummer with his drumsticks, then immediately diving into a song that picks up the pace noticeably. The bass is heavily featured in the beginning of the first verse of the song, handing the spotlight over to the guitar and drums in the chorus. The vocals of the song carry over the instruments easily, with both powerful words and tone. "Hold On" captures the emotion within the words with the guitar and harmonies on the vocals, as well as an accompaniment of strings. With an unexpected guitar solo between the second verse and chorus, the song proves to have more in store than people may think, with unique vocal displays along with well thought-out placements of drums and guitar parts. "Forever My Father", a re-recording of the original song written by Jason, Erin, and Daniel Lancaster after the death of their father, cuts deep for many people, even if they cannot directly relate to the situation. The piano and drums, as well as the added guitar and bass, all contribute to the somber emotion that flows throughout then entire song, and the vocals deliver the words and their meaning well. To lighten the mood, horns open for the next track, "Fight, Fight (Reach for the Sky), and proceeds to smoothly to a driving guitar rhythm, later rejoined by the drums. The chorus has a catchy timing that will stick in your mind even if you have no idea what the words are, with interesting wording that leaves you wondering what exactly this song was written about. "House of Hallways" delivers a softer sound that contrasts with the previous track quite a bit, almost sounding sad. The guitar and strings provide the beat and sound for this track, as well as harmonies layered behind the main vocals, leaving a somber feeling with you even after the song has finished. "Redemption in the Verse" introduces a solid vocals with an interesting guitar rhythm, eventually adding in a drum beat and a guitar riff with a bass part. The chorus carries the most weight in this song in my opinion, with a vocal part that catches your attention and holds it throughout the song, and a very unique bridge. With what sounds like a train blowing off steam slowly blending into a piano part kicking off this track, "The Truth Is" relies on the piano and guitar to hold the song together, with the vocals taking their own path to weave around the notes put out. The mixture of sounds used in this song create an almost-calming effect, with smooth transitions between the verse and chorus, as well as the chorus and verse. This track is the second single that was released off of this album, though the original single had no steam noises. The last track on Lucky Street is the original version of "Forever My Father (feat. Erin & Daniel Lancaster)", featuring vocals from all three siblings. Written and recorded after their father's viewing, this version, in my opinion, has more emotion communicated through the words, concluding the album nicely.
Lucky Street is definitely a true exhibition of the talent that lies within Go Radio, and the potential that they have to burst into the mainstream of the music industry. Although not every person likes the style of music that they have, this album appeals to quite a few different sides of the alternative genre, with slower songs and more upbeat songs. Each of the songs communicates a different feeling, and the lyrics themselves are unique and hold deeper meanings than many songs out there at the moment. Lucky Street is an album that will be on repeat for a while on your music player for sure. So enjoy some good music and take a walk down Lucky Street.
