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Week 2:

The Pretty Reckless

Where Are You Christmas

Artist Introduction

I saw The Pretty Reckless live in concert a few years back as they opened for Halestorm, so that absolutely makes sense with dads comment. I went in pretty blind, and in my opinion, they put on a better show than Halestorm that night. I think Halestorm is a better band, but they just absolutely rocked the house and had the crowd sold from the beginning. I'll echo a lot of whats already in here, but they have a raspy voiced, bold female lead who goes after the kick ass style of rock n roll. I have it flip flopped that I like Heaven Knows more than Death by Rock N Roll. Both cheesy but good songs, but Heaven Knows slightly edges it out for me. Back to the River was significantly the best song I listened to outta this whole thing, and was really happy to close out with that. Added it to the playlist immediately. If you have the chance to see them live, for sure do it, they won't disappoint. 7.1 is a fair rating

Joe Cascella

Most Popular

Make Me Wanna Die
Joe Cascella

Heaven Knows

Where Are You Christmas

Personal Favorites

Death By Rock N' Roll

Take Me Down

N/A

Unique Songs

Under The Water

25

Back To The River

Conclusions

Cascella Family Reviews

Vin Cascella

Make Me Wanna Die: Great song, and great intro to the band. It really encompasses their overall sound with big guitars and a bigger voice. It’s going to be a recurring comment I make with this band but you can hear the classic rock n roll influence all over their music. My one problem with this song is that they give the guitarist too many backing vocals and his Angus Young/Jack Black sounding voice is cheesy as hell. 


Heaven Knows: A slightly more radio friendly hit. Good song, catchy chorus, features a little more of the bluesy side of classic rock n roll. Sure it’s good. I think they have better material but it’s fine. 


Where are you Christmas?: So I know when we made this group that the first three songs were supposed to be their most popular. That doesn’t mean just take the first 3 songs off their Spotify lol. I’m assuming this was listed higher than it’s supposed to because we’re moving towards the Christmas season. Either way… it’s funny hearing Cindy Lou Who start off the song before it rips into a relatively fun Christmas rock song. I actually like it a lot. 


Death by Rock N Roll: Another strong rock song from the band. I like it better than Heaven Knows but not as much as Make Me Wanna Die. It might be because I spent my childhood listening to bands that put out the same song over and over again (looking at you Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace), but this song kind of just comes off as cheesy. I feel like I’ve heard it a thousand times already and it’s just a tribute song to biker bar anthems across the world. Not a bad song by any means, I’ve just heard it before. That being said. This band does live and breathe Sex, Drugs, & Rock N Roll, so fair game, they practice what they preach. 


Take Me Down: See above comments about how their music sounds the same. Slightly more blues and gospel. I hear influences of more classic acts like The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Soundgarden, as well as our modern divorced dad rock: Shinedown, Pop Evil, Dorothy, Volbeat, etc. Under the Water: Best song so far, I like them so much more when they slow down their music a little. Still full of strong vocals and guitars and any songs that add strings are a bonus for me. 


25: Sure. 


Back to the River: I honestly thought this was a cover song until I looked it up. I couldn’t quite place my finger on where I had heard it before, but I was positive that someone else wrote this song. I thought it could’ve been the Eagles or Lynard Skynard, mom and dad mentioned that she sounds like Sheryl Crow at times and I could’ve easily seen her being the original author. However, this is an original track and one of their best if not the best on this list. Featuring Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers it makes a lot of sense why this song has familiar southern rock roots. Solid ending to the list. 


Overall, I give them a 6.5/10. I like them and would go see them live. There's just times they come off a bit too generic rock n roll for my taste.

Dad Cascella

Have finished Joseph's submission, and am ready to comment.


MAKE ME WANNA DIE-- Very good opening, Power Chords, Raspy Voice, Yup, I'm in


HEAVEN KNOWS- I've heard this before, not my favorite, seems like a filler song to complete an album, tho the chorus did hook me.


WHERE ARE YOU CHRISTMAS-- campy Christmas song, but I did like her vocals.


DEATH BY ROCK AND ROLL-- similar to HEAVEN KNOWS, but better. Sensing at this point that this band relies on solid chorus's.


TAKE ME DOWN-- Really liked the low vibe and the solid build-up. Then another solid chorus, then a guitar lead. YUP, works for me.


UNDER THE WATER-- Softer, then a slow rocker, YUP, again worked for me, and sung very well with very solid lyrics.


25-- OK song, I think they could have done much more with it, and I didn't like the ending.


BACK TO THE RIVER-- Starts kind of country, good song, and again a solid chorus, and I'm a sucker for electric guitar leads. Joseph only had 8 songs, but I found another. JUST TONIGHT-- Hooked me in right away, really liked this song, some of her best singing.


So overall, I really liked this band. Yea, some of the songs were generic Rock and Roll, but I still like a band that appears to like to Rock. Nothing special about the guitar work or drumming, but they were still solid. I liked her overall singing, some smooth, some raspy, some hard rocking, and a big YUP for me. Liked lyrics in most of songs. And this band definitely knows how to hook you in with a good chorus. Am I wrong, or do they remind me a bit like HAELSTORM? SO, would I go see them in concert. Probably YES! 7.3/10

Mom Cascella

I liked this band, liked the sound,good rock and roll. A bit dark, I think the whole band, or at least lead singer, needs a psychiatrist.


MAKE ME WANNA DIE- I liked it, do I detect a vampire theme, LOL?


HEAVEN KNOWS, it was fine.


WHERE ARE YOU CHRISTMAS- Cindy Lu Who nostalgia, Fun song, but also sad.


DEATH BY ROCK AND ROLL- What a story. PLEASE, Stop with the drugs and hide the shotgun.


TAKE ME DOWN- a bit bluesy, I really enjoyed this one.


UNDER THE WATER- change of pace slower song, a bit sad, again, but I liked it a lot..


25-didn't like, time for another psych visit!!


BACK TO THE RIVER- really liked this one, my favorite song, had a Sheryl Crow country vibe, I'll put this one on my play list. 


Overall, good rock and roll band, nothing I haven't heard before. I give them 6.9

Uncle Vin Cascella

I'm a little familiar with this band and have a favorable first impression.


MAKE ME WANNA DIE: I like the general sound. Great voice. Repetitive lyrics kind of stunt

the song- the songwriter in me thinks this could've been better! 6.5


HEAVEN KNOWS: old school Rock n roll sound, great vocal inflections. Cool, extensive

lyrics. I love this song. 8.0


WHERE ARE YOU CHRISTMAS: V cool, enjoyable listen. 7.4

*** The Band is good but her vocals are the show!


DEATH BY ROCK AND ROLL: Great open- old school sound again. Seriously- this girl

can sing! 7.8


TAKE ME DOWN: Love the Vocal and lyrics and the way the band just holding it down.

Rock n Roll yo! 8.0


UNDER THE WATER: A bit slow, typical Rock Band Ballad. I like it. 6.8


25: WOW! Fantastic song! Great Vocals, lyrics, band performance/sound and production. As a musician, while listening, I found myself curious as to where the song was gonna go. I listened to it twice. Excellent tune. 8.5


BACK TO THE RIVER: Country Rock sound- which I love. Nice double time reprise at the end.

*** I also liked that many of their songs were around the 4 minute mark- very smart!

Your Rating:

7.1

Average Rating:

2 votes

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