Tragic City Symphony: The Bring Back Glam! Review

Lynam's fifth studio album Tragic City Symphony (New Ocean Media) officially hits stores on August 26, but the album is already available for purchase through the band's official website. As I predicted months ago, this album is fantastic. The track list looks like this:

1. Is This A Heartbreak Or A Loaded Gun?
2. Enemy
3. Lindsay Says
4. Just Say Anything
5. Save My Soul
6. Porn Star
7. Can’t Do Anything
8. If You Leave
9. Make It Alright
10. White Trash Superstar
11. A Million Ways
12. Suffer

Ok, I'll admit "Is This A Heartbreak Or A Loaded Gun?" sounds emo, but that's just the title. Once the chorus kicks in, it's hard to tell if you're listening to Lynam of Def Leppard - back when DL were actually good. You know, in the 80s. Not hard to believe, "Is This A Heartbreak Or A Loaded Gun?" is one of my favorite songs on Tragic City Symphony. Plus, I think the song title would look hot on a T-shirt.

"Enemy" is a big deal for Lynam. This track features slide guitar by Tom Keifer of Cinderella. It also features gang vocals by Hinder. Now, I do not like Hinder, but their input on this song isn't too pervasive and they don't muck it up. Quite frankly, lead singer Jacob Lynam doesn't need any help in the vocal department.

"Lindsay Says" is a song that's been on Lynam's Myspace for a few months now. I've listened to this track several times over the past few weeks, getting ready for this new CD. This song sounds very modern, but somehow Lynam never lose their Glam influences. "Lindsay Says" has a nice, big chorus - just what we all need to get out of bad mood. Songs like "Lindsay Says" are the main reason why I love Lynam. It takes more than image to be a great band: you have to know how to write lyrics and play and have emotion. 

Truth be told, I doubt Lynam consider themselves a Glam band. After all, Lynam is a trio - very rare in the Glam genre. They don't make over-the-top videos, or have stage shows with dancing girls and pyro. Still, this is one band that knows how to make a power ballad. Tragic City Symphony features a few nice ballads, including "Just Say Anything,"  "If You Leave" and "A Million Ways."  The latter reminds me of Warrant, with the acoustic guitar and dreamy lyrics. Think "Heaven" meets 2008 - yeah, it's that good. The lyrics to "If You Leave" are actually painful - deeply moving. That's the power of music.

The first single supporting Tragic City Symphony is "Save My Soul" and for good reason: the song is a sonic powerhouse. The guitar tone is so rich here, "Save My Soul" is a production masterpiece for my money. It also reminds me why I listen to rock music. Quite frankly, it takes a lot to impress me these days. I receive a lot of albums and watch a lot of bands - and most start to run together. When a band produces a song as good as "Save My Soul" they stand out.

The song that surprised me the most on Tragic City Symphony? That's easy: "White Trash Superstar." I suppose my boys in Lynam are paying tribute to their Alabama heritage with the banjo picking (Lynam's first album is also called White Trash Superstar). Still, the song is damn catchy and has - yet again - a huge chorus. Here, the lyrics are easy and there's a nice electric guitar solo to compete with the banjo. Ah, I love ironic juxtaposition.

Tragic City Symphony  is now in the running as my favorite album of 2008.

www.myspace.com/lynam

Comments

[aXe mAn]

I like "Slave to the Machine"...but for some reason, I'm a little reluctant to pick this one up.

[Christian]

Just to nit pick - you're right that I can't think of many trios in glam, but, Cinderella are one of many examples where the only reason the band is a four piece is that the singer doesn't play an instrument. Motley Crue also springs to mind.