Artist: Allan Von
Genre: Alternative/Rock
Album Name: Allan Von
Label: None
Allan Von is a local musician in Dallas whose love for playing music shines through not only in his live show but on his CD as well. Von is a multi-talented musician that can play more than one instrument well.
His self-titled album starts off with When I Get There. This track has a slow and mellow piano intro that will haunt you. Then his voice kicks in. Von’s voice in this song is light and airy with a certain depth to it. With smooth transitions and the harmonies in perfect tune with the vocals, this song is great for starting the CD.
The second track, Turn My Page, has a fun and frisky beat with simple drums and a sincere focus on a mix of music and vocals.
This song has an old school feeling with the simple aspect of music with emotional complexity. This is one of the tracks on the album that you would want to turn up and jam to on the way to school in the morning.
Where I’ve Been, which is track four on the album song was written so that people can have help coping with the loss of a close friend or family member.
The song starts with a buildup into the guitar. A slow melodic guitar brings you in to hook you.
Then the lyrics start, “Tuesday afternoon, forced to face the news, but I can’t feel right now I’m not aloud to.” Everyone who has lost someone close knows that these words ring true when you are trying to deal with a loss.
It is one of those emotional songs that really does help get you through a rough time. The sorrowful melody catches your ears and you can’t help but to listen. When Von is done singing, his guitar solo moves you until the end of the song. It is captivating and breath taking. This is a great example of amazing song writing.
Dig You A Hole has an upbeat 50’s swing style to it. It sounds like an optimistic and happy song. However, once you listen to the lyrics it is angry but makes you want to sing and dance to it.
The lyrics in part of the song say, “This is why I can’t go on while you exist.” This song shows how happy hate can be. It also shows that angry songs don’t only come in the form of metal or sappy country songs, but can also be fun and upbeat.
This whole CD is absolutely amazing when it comes to the song writing and the music that fills your stereo speakers.
However, there are a few problems inside the CD as a whole. I would love to see some articulation and diction work in tracks three and six.
In Maybe, there are also a few rough transitions that need to be worked through. There are also a few pitch problems, but with some fine-tuning these small kinks can be worked out.
This album can fit any mood that a person is in.
You have your slow, sad, sappy songs and you also have your rock and party songs. On one hand you can sit and chill to the album or you can pound the video games and rock out with a brush as a mic in front of the mirror.
All in all, this CD is amazing. If you would like to check him out and see where he is playing, you can go to myspace.com.