|
| |
|
: : COS - The Turning Around : :
|
|
Band/Artist
COS
Title:
The Turning Around
Released
2003
Label
Progrock-records |
 |
Track List:
1. Born Again
2. The Turning Around
3. Nolta
4. This TV Show
5. My Angel
6. Your Name
7. Love Alone
8. Explode
9. When Your Lonely
10. Violet
11. Restless Hearts |
| |
: : The Players are : :
Mark Costoso
All Instruments
Ray Manna
Lead Guitar on “Love Alone” |
|
 |
: : Review : :
 Hailing
from the US, COS is the one-man group of one Mark Costoso. On his debut CD “The
Turning Around” from 2002, he wears all the hats, including playing all instruments
and doing all singing, both lead and background harmonies. He also takes credit for
writing, producing, arranging and engineering the CD. Most of the lyrics were
written by other people, probably friends of COS.
The music on the CD is a more pop/rock oriented affair
with some progressive leanings. It has been compared to Todd Rundgren/Utopia as well
as Foreigner and Toto. COS has a very pleasant, though not strong singing voice,
with a little bluesy feel to it. The compositions are not overly complicated.
Unfortunately, the lyrics are trite at times, with many of them on the childish
side.
Upon first listen, it becomes apparent that Mr. Costoso is a very talented musician
and knows his way around the knobs and buttons of his home-made studio, located in
the basement of his house, where the CD was recorded. What also becomes apparent is
that, like many other one-man band projects, the lack of real drums is very
annoying. The programmed drums make the CD very hard to enjoy. Mark does enlist the
help of a guest guitarist on one track…then why not the help of a real drummer?
I found this disc very hard to get through. It contains a mix of semi-ballads and
some rockier tracks. The opener, “Born Again” is a nice melodic rock tune, with a
great guitar break in the middle and great harmonies too. The harder tracks like
“Explode” with the Foreigner “Double Vision” intro work pretty well, also with a
great guitar lead. On “Love Alone” the lyrics, especially the chorus, are so lame as
to be laughable. It does feature the only track with a guest player on guitar, which
has some great hooks in it. The three ballads on the CD feature the typical electric
piano intro and have an “I’ve heard this many times before” style making them a
little too syrupy for my tastes.
Overall, this CD is a mixed start from a very talented musician. Here’s hoping he
finds better lyricists and a real drummer for his next outing.
Reviewer: Bob Rosenthal
Rating: 5.5 keyboards
Visit the artist web site:
: : DISCOGRAPHY : :
The Turning Around - 2003 |
 |
|
