eighteenth hour Analog Sessions CD

There are a thousand adjectives used to describe bands. For Eighteenth Hour there's one...rock band. Hailing from Pennsylvania, Eighteenth Hour has racked up three sold-out CDs and a long list of accolades in the past few years, not to mention a loyal fanbase in Philadelphia, New York and the Lehigh Valley. Eighteenth Hour's reputation as a great live band spread quickly after winning WZZO 95.1FM's 15th Annual Backyard Bands Competition which was judged by representatives from Atlantic, Virgin and Interscope Records. This was the launching pad that lead Eighteenth Hour to regular performances at the best original music venues in PA-NJ-NY including Grape Street Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA), The Bitter End (NYC) and Musikfest (Bethlehem, PA). While the term rock band might sound one-dimensional in today's music industry, taking the time to listen to Eighteenth Hour's wide range of rock songwriting on their new CD “The Analog Sessions” puts that misconception to rest. From the driving rock anthems "I’m Gone" and "Come Back Later" to the intimate ballad "While We’re Waiting" to the blues-rock infused "Sound the Sirens Off" to the Zeppelin-esque single "Songbird", Eighteenth Hour is a band built around the musical strengths of four guys which combine to create a killer experience for any rock music fan.Review in The Morning Call (www.mcall.com) - September 8, 2007:Eighteenth Hour, the Bethlehem-based rock band, has been through several line-ups and a hiatus since they began in 2000, but core members David Zullo (guitar) and Geoff Houser (guitar and vocals), are back rocking it old school. As the title "The Analog Sessions" indicates, their new disc (the band's fourth of original tunes) is a throwback to pre-digital music. The eight songs feature big distorted guitars, bluesy solos and dramatic acoustic ballads. A classic rock influence can be heard, with riffs in the style pioneered by Led Zeppelin - although it should be noted that Houser's vocal style is more restrained than the typical caterwauling associated with '70s rock. He sings in a straight-ahead modern rock style, occasionally cutting loose with a satisfying scream and impressive falsetto. "Sound the Sirens Off," the most overtly blues song, is a standout. It begins with a slow blues guitar riff by Zullo, accented by an organ before joining a steady beat by drummer Tom Chaffier and building to a tightly rocking chorus. Impressive and melodic bass-playing by Jim Touchton is an unexpected touch, leading nicely into Zullo's guitar solo. The opening track, "Come Back Later," is also impressive. Here the guitars sound modern in a Foo Fighters sort of way while vocal harmonies add a soft touch over the heavy fuzz.Josh Berk / The Morning Call