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“Picture Perfect” is the 5th album for Louisiana rockers 12 Stones, a band that was a mainstay of movie soundtracks during the first decade of the century. You heard them in movies such as “The Scorpion King,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “Elektra” and “Daredevil”, as well as at WWE events, so even if you don’t know them by name, you’ll recognize them as soon as you hit play.
As mainstays of the post-grunge rock scene (their lead singer Paul McCoy also appeared on the Evanescence megahit “Bring Me to Life”), it’s no surprise that the new album offers solid rock songs that run the range from moody modern rock to hard rocking anthems. The 14 songs straddle a line between rock and metal, and manage to serve both side well without ever tipping over.
Solid riffs, catchy melodies and lush harmonies all around make this a very good record. From the driving guitar of the opening track “The Killer” to the sing-along chorus of the closer “We Are One”, each song contributes a different element to the album. It’s all well inside the established genre, but it’s all good. The production sounds great and punchy, and you’ll want to crank it up at home, in the car or in your earbuds while working out.
Thumbs up for “Picture Perfect”!
He's also a regular contributor at the excellent news site Montreal Rampage
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