Album Review: Edisun – Collision

Edisun – Collision

Album Review by Hannah of www.rockmycommute.com

Perhaps with a name like Edisun, you’d expect something science-y and smart – calling to mind the great inventor and our natural energy source. But what the band puts forward instead, is a stable blend of nostalgia bands (you’ve always sort of enjoyed their alternative radio hits but maybe never really joined the fanclub). The first song initially struck me as being almost 90s-esque, but I couldn’t quite pin it down. Then on the chorus I realize what this is really reminding me of is actually – Daughtry. The vocals are really pretty good!

If you like this style of music and are looking for some fresh songs for the rotation, you will probably like these guys just fine. According to their website they have been writing and performing music for the past several years – and they are East Coast based, so I’m hoping to check out a live show.

What is a little surprising (and impressive) on the album is the variation in style from song to song – it is almost hard to believe that “Vampires and Wolves” is on the same album as “Secrets” if you ask me – see below for my suggestions on comparable artists for each track on the release and you’ll see what I mean:
1. Daughtry and Our Lady Peace (“Kill Me With Your Kiss”)
2. Goo Goo Dolls (“Collision”)
3. Jakob Dylan from Wallflowers with Hit the Lights or Saves the Day (“Pins and Needles”)
4. Hard to describe (“Vampires and Wolves”) but let me try. The opening guitar sounds like something by Passenger; this whole thing is a bit more folksy than the rest of the album; and other than the dark title/chorus/lyrics (reminiscent of the Twilight movies!)I think this is a rather pleasant song.
5. Dashboard Confessional chorus on “Farewell”. I mean these emo lyrics just scream Chris Carrabba on the chorus – “Jealousy just let me be / caught up in your fame / it will never be the same – farewell to your world / break me from these chains”
6. Not sure who this reminds me of – but “Arcade” is grittier and heavier than the other tracks so far. I kind of like the more aggressive guitars on the interlude! Somehow I am reminded of Dishwalla and Collective Soul but I just can’t place this sound exactly.
7. More moody and rock than the rest, and almost Metallica-ish (“Secrets”)
8. Goo Goo Dolls again, but like their later cheesier slow songs (“Ocean Waves”)

Is anything on the track listing super-inventive, as again perhaps the name “Edisun” would suggest? Possibly, in the unexpected combination of styles and re-delivery of something you haven’t thought of in awhile (emo and alternative music from the 90s, 2000s, and today) wrapped up in a new package. Is this album anything you would enjoy? Probably, given the popularity of the other artists I referred to, and the fact that there is something here for everybody – quite a few different song styles.

I’ll be honest and say that my initial thought upon hearing the opening track at the first listen was “oh I have heard this before”; but when I listened to the album multiple times it started to grow on me. I think it is mostly a nostalgia thing, as each track brings back a unique set of memories for me – I might have to dust off the Wallflower CD and break out the Dashboard Confessional again, too!