It can be tough to make an established sound into your own. Infusing your own style and personality into a genre some consider classic can leave the music lost in translation, losing the authenticity of the artist. Sanjay Michael rises to this occasion, however, with his latest album. “Rocking Into Midnight” pays perfect homage to the era of Classic Rock that Sanjay Michael draws inspiration and uses that iconic sound to tell his own inspired stories. The first track is the title track, “Rocking Into Midnight.”
The guitar licks of the intro are instantly infectious and gets you ready for when the drums add a kick to the music. The bassline is low and adds depth to the guitar riffs, making everything come together with an old-school classic rock feel. The aesthetic permeates everything, including the fun and evocative vocal performance that leans into the carefree and mischievous side of the sounds the band channels. “Rocking Into Midnight” oozes with nostalgia and is great fun to listen to.
“Rattlesnake Shuffle” brings the attitude after an intro that builds the fast-paced track up perfectly. While the track has a great groove, the freewheeling guitar leads the charge in this track. The in-your-face aesthetic of track hits hard in the powerful vocal performance, especially when Sanjay hits you with “rattlesnake saw me and started to move, tryin’ to get into the groove. But when he wagged his tail from side to side I found the rhythm, I found the rhythm inside!” It makes “Rattlesnake Shuffle” the perfect compliment to the title track and a follow-up that keeps you hooked.
“Vampire Girl” has low guitars during the intro that set up the signature classic rock feel, but when the bass kicks in the groove begins instantly. It gives the track an awesome feeling of revving up to each memorable chorus, which explodes each time you hear it. The guitar solo around the 2:30 mark really steals the show, however, and makes “Vampire Girl” a stand-out track that carries the classic rock style perfectly.
Another track that brings the attitude is “It’s Just Business.” The low, rambling guitars have a harsh aesthetic, especially when the bass rumbles beneath them. The percussions have a decisive bounce that adds to the groove, but keeps gravity of the track heavy. This is to match up with the dark lyrical aesthetic. Lines such as “let’s do this now let’s do this neat, I got what you want under the passenger’s seat. Just then, I see ya look down the alley and tip your hat, it’s trap!” Followed by “I grab the girl, pull out my gun. Now what’cha think about that?!” Are lines that mince no words and warrant the low, rambling guitars that hit just as hard as the drums. With catchy beats and powerful vocals, “It’s Just Business” is another stand-out track with attitude.
“Friday Night Drinks” follows up after “It’s Just Business,” and from the top brings the rock. The distorted guitars take over the track instantly and never let up. This gives the track a high-octane feeling, which goes hand-in-hand with its party-hardy attitude. The slammin’ drums create the perfect backdrop for this aesthetic, as even when the track slows down around the 2-minute mark, the slams of the drums does its part to shock it back to life. With two guitar solos, one in the middle and one at the end, “Friday Night Drinks” is a track that holds nothing back.
“Rocking Into Midnight” is a fun listen and a great tribute to the classic rock sounds. Anyone who is a fan of KISS, Van Halen, or any other of the classic rock greats can appreciate what Sanjay Michael has brought to the table with this album. The authentic sound is full of personal attitude, perfectly channeling the rowdy and fun-loving atmosphere of his inspirations. Any rock fan would be missing out if they skipped “Rocking Into Midnight.”
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