Some bands have all the luck, while others have to struggle all of the time. Take this band Biloxi for an example. We all remember them from their great debut album, “Let The Games Begin”, released in 1993, but shortly after its release they split, mainly due to the untimely death of their guitarist. Vocalist Clyde Holly then relocated to his home town of Biloxi, where he started producing local acts in his own HollyHouse Recording Studios. One of those bands was Slump and that’s how he met drummer Rob Gronkoski, with whom he ended up in the Rebecca Allen Band, which eventually led to the reformation of Biloxi around the start of the new millennium. The second Biloxi album, “Right The Music”, saw the light of day in 2002. It was first released by Ash America in the US and later picked up and distributed by MTM Music in Europe. Featuring a well-balanced mix of rockers and ballads, it easily conquered the heart of yours truly, who rewarded it with 5 out of 6 stars.
After that release the band was joined by vocalist/guitarist Mark Allen Lanoue, who had a lot of input on the writing of new songs for a third album. Fate hounded the band once again on September 10, 2006: Clyde Holly died of complications resulting from a condition know as sleep apnea. The remaining band members were dismayed, but nevertheless they took the resolute stand to continue and finish what was started: the recording of ‘Biloxi III’.
Titled “In The Wake Of The Storm” – due to the impact that hurricane Katrina has had on the lives of all Americans – the album is more than a worthy follow-up of “Right The Music”. Most songs were written by the pair of Holly and Lanoue and see the band evolving in a slightly heavier direction, although this is still pretty much a melodic hard album in its purest form. The late Clyde Holly can be heard as lead vocalist on “Pray For Rain” and “Synchronicity II” and as lead guitarist on five tracks, while Mark Allen Lanoue did the honours on the rest of the material. It really is a pity that Clyde is no longer among us, because on this album he once again proved what a talented guy he was. The good news however is that Mark Allen Lanoue also did a fine job also. Not only did he finish the album with Rob Gronkoski, he sings and plays the guitar in a great way as well. Don’t expect a mixed bag of songs here, but a total of 14 rockers and ballads that sound quite coherent. OK, the production could have been better (conspicuous sound differences between some of the songs), but with song material as strong as what I hear here, I can live with that. Among the highlights are songs like opener “Here Alone”, “Pray For Rain”, “On The Other Side”, “Broken” (the heaviest track on offer) and “Fly Into The Sun”. Don’t dearch for this album in your record store, but order it directly from the band at
http://www.biloximusic.com . (
CL)
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YNGWIEVIKING
GOOD CD but one step behind the 2 first ALBUM ,Mainly because of the prod. (still decent)
Despite this fact , the players are good & even if The songs are HEAVIER: the focus on the Melodies is still STRONG !
GlenRavine
This could've been great - I felt that the production was lacking greatly - songs are great and the hooks are there, but it could've been def. better if the production was better. Great AOR feel. Too bad though - bad production.
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