Search - Poley/Pichler :: Big

Might as well call it Melodica

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 09/05/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Instead of issuing a third Melodica album, in 2002 vocalist Ted Poley (ex-Danger Danger) and guitarist Gerhard Pichler launched the appropriately-titled Poley Pichler and released Big One, an album that sounds exactly like a third Melodica album. Go figure.



Whatever the reasoning behind the name change (label issues?), the music is what counts, and what you hear on Big One is about the same as what you'd find on either of the Melodica albums. It's very smooth, very relaxed AOR/melodic rock with lots of love songs and very little rocking out. Poley has definitely separated himself from the old Danger Danger party rock sound. Some of the issues that affected the last Melodica release are present here, like the songs' tendency to blend together and the lack of different song types, but if you enjoyed the Melodica sound that probably won't be a major issue.



There are no real surprises here. If you liked Danger Danger, or Bone Machine, or Melodica, you'll like Poley Pichler as well.

"