Label : ATOM Records
Review by Tony Cannella
The Austrian Melodic Hard Rock band Cornerstone (not to be confused with the band featuring ex-Rainbow singer Doogie White), released their debut album “Head Over Heels” in 2008. Since that debut came out, the band has found a new drummer (Mike Pawlowitsch) and a new singer (Patricia Hillinger). Both make their Cornerstone debuts on “Somewhere in America”. Thankfully, Cornerstone’s brand of infectious, well written, performed and produced AOR style hard rock remains happily intact. That fact is punctuated by the cheerful opening number “Stay”. The next track “Rise and Shine” is just an excellent upbeat number. “Breathing for You” brings the tempo down a bit, but still packs a lot of effectiveness. And did I mention their new singer? Well, to say that she fits right in would be an understatement; she was an outstanding choice to take over the vocal duties. “Right or Wrong” is a wistful piano heavy ballad, with plenty of sensitivity. “Like a Stranger” is next and brings the tempo back to rocking proportions. “Somewhere in America”, maybe loses a little steam near the end, but that doesn’t change the fact that there is overwhelmingly more good than mediocre on “Somewhere in America”. Okay, it remains to be seen if Cornerstone is able to acquire a following worldwide. Let’s hope so because “Somewhere in America” strikes me as an album that has that potential.
Rating – 83/100
Tracklist
- Stay
- Rise and Shine
- Being Unaware
- Breathing for You
- Right or Wrong
- Like a Stranger
- Follow You, Follow Me
- Oblivious
- High and Low
- Strut
Line Up
- Patricia Hillinger – Vocals
- Steve Wachelhofer – Guitar & Vocals
- Michael Wachelhofer – Bass, Keyboards & Vocals
- Mike Pawlowitsch – Drums
Links
MySpace * ReverbNation * Facebook * Twitter * Site