HEARTBREAK RADIO – Heartbreak Radio

It’s funny how a few spins of a CD can change your perception of music. The first spin of Heartbreak Radio makes no big impression at all, but after the third, fourth, and fifth spins this CD has the tendency to get really enjoyable. The guys behind the project have really managed to make a varied and steady piece of work.

It starts off with a quite cheesy radio host inviting us to an hour of great music, and then into a typical late 1980s tune called “Hard Rock City,” that gets you singing along with the chorus “hey hey hey” in no time! The CD continues on with a pleasant tune, “Now You’re Gone,” that kind of gives you that David Coverdale (Whitesnake) – feeling.

“Keep Rockin’ the Night” is almost Heartbreak Radio’s own interpretation of Kiss’ “Crazy, Crazy Nights,” with a little dash of the characteristic David Lee Roth laugh in between. Also mixing in is a beautiful, sulky ballad “Let Me Have My Heart Again ”… fantastic, acoustic guitars and such a sensual voice.

On “Only You,” the tables are turned and they have made a song perfect for Billy Joel — very “Uptown Girl”-ish, and then some really rough sounds come through on “Knockin’ On Hell’s Door.”

The two last songs, “Just 4 Love” and “The Way of the World,” are very pop like, and the choiring almost could have been done by the Jackson Five.

So depending on what mood you’re in, Heartbreak Radio sure has something for every taste. It’s a good production and the mixing is excellent.

This result is just as varied as the band members themselves; Heartbreak Radio is a band project founded in 2004 by production team Torbjorn Wassenius/Claes Andreasson, who, in the past, have been known for their work with Last Autumn’s Dream and the solo work of singer Mikael Erlandsson. With Erlandsson on the mic is also ex-Prisoner singer Pierre Weinsberg. Just varying it up with these two on vocals gives this album an exciting impact.

Further along is Mikkey Dee (Motörhead) on drums, and Magnus Rosén (Hammerfall) on bass guitar, as well as various guitarists including Sayit, T’Bell, and Tommy Denander (Radioactive). Other guests on this album include Max Abbey (Ultravox, Paul Young), Joel Starander (Geisha), and Jim Jidhed.

Whether this band ever makes it on the road is yet to be seen, but until then, turn on your radio and get your hearts broken!