Pleasure Dome – For Your Personal Amusement (Release Year – 2008)
Like everybody else I am waiting the release of the new Danger Danger album, which will hopefully see the light of day in 2009. But if you think Ted Poley is just sitting around doing nothing you would be sadly mistaken. Not only is he preparing for the release of Poley/Rivera’s Only Human in the middle of November, he also found the time to record the debut album “For Your Personal Amusement” with his band mates in Pleasure Dome. Poley teams up with David Tsien (guitars), Charlie Calv (keyboards), Ed Avila (bass) and John Hummel (drums) in what amounts to a melodic rock supergroup. Some of the bands the members have been involved with in the past include, Shotgun Symphony, Arcara, Shoot the Doctor, Skin Tag and Melodica.
After a short musical intro everything kicks off with “Trapped” which is a heavy melodic song filled with some great bass lines from Avila and keyboards from Calv. For someone known more for party rock Poley does a great job of handling the vocals on this song and Tsien completes the song perfectly with his guitar work.
“One & Only” could easily pass for a Danger Danger song or a song off Poley’s solo albums. It is a catchy sing a long song with great vocals and even more great guitar work from Tsien. I hope some radio station gives this song a chance because it deserves it and has hit written all over it.
“the Aura That Surrounds You” is another heavy melodic song with some haunting keyboards and great bass from Calv and Avila. With every song Tsien’s playing impresses me more and more. His playing along with Poley’s vocals shine throughout the album.
“Praying For A Miracle” is an acoustic based mid tempo rocker, which I believe was first recorded for Liberty N’ Justice’s “Independence Day” album that Poley also sang a track on.
“Always Tomorrow” follows the same formula as “Trapped” and “Aura That Surrounds You”. “Love Is A Game” is a duet between Poley and unfortunately an unknown female singer. She also returns to join the band again on “I Won’t Cry”.
“Seems Like A Dream” is an unusual song as it is mostly an instrumental but it does have about a minute worth of vocals in the middle of the song but there is some great playing nonetheless.
“Return To Zero” is by far the heaviest song on the album, while it is a decent song I could live without it and it wouldn’t leave a hole in the album.
Comic book fans should all love (Who Will) Save the World as this rocker talks about how the world needs a new super hero as all the well known heroes from D.C. and Marvel alike are all busy with their own problems. This song gets my vote for best song on the album.
“For Your Personal Amusement” is a good album and a great introduction to the band. Hopefully we will get a chance to hear their work again. I believe the guys just started scratching the surface of what they are capable of doing together.
Check out Pleasure Dome on myspace at this link.
Rating:
Out of 10
Track Listing:
- For Your Personal Amusement Intro
- Trapped
- One And Only
- The Aura That Surrounds You
- Praying For A Miracle
- Always Tomorrow
- Love Is A Game
- Seems Like A Dream
- I Won’t Cry
- Return To Zero
- Who Will Save The World
- For Your Personal Amusement Outro
Pleasure Dome is:
Ted Poley – vocals
Dave Tsien – guitars
Charlie Calv – keyboards
Ed Avila Jnr – bass
John Hummel – drums
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I agree, and if you read the post from Donnie Vie we posted on HRH a few weeks ago. He said alot of what happened was because of a power play within the record company.
You ought to hear some of their later stuff, Jeremy. They might change your mind.
Firehouse’s last album was back on the heavier side (more like their debut). Believe it or not, Enuff Z’nuff, was a step above quite a few of the hair metal bands musically speaking. They just got lumped in with the crowd of hair metal acts. I don’t think their label knew how to market them properly.
Yeah, yeah, I fucked up on the 2nd sentence, I know, I know. Ooooooooooooooops.
I ain’t tryin’ to change anyone’s mind. To each thier it’s, I guess. I mean, I too like late 80s pop/metal, I just felt some bands had more pop than metal. Ya know? I always dug Cinderella, Faster Pussycat, Bullet Boys, maybe a little Slaughter and a couple others. Back in the day, my 1st impression on most of these bands was what they debuted on Mtv with. I remember watchin’ Enuff Z’nuff & I admitt owning the Firehouse cassette single for ” Reach For The Sky “…which does jam. But as far as these guys ( Danger, Danger included ) being “entire” album worthy like Cinderella was, I didn’t think they fit that bill at all. Plus thier image, I thought, was way too poppy, like Poison’s debut look or worse. But as I said, to each it’s own.
I agree with Rob about Enuff Z’Nuff’s new album and the new Firehouse and there actually are a lot of people waiting for the new Danger Danger I see it on message boards all the time. I’m sure you only listen to high quality bands but I guess all of us can’t have your superior taste in music Jeremy. But oh well I have been listening to all those bands you mentioned for 20 years or more and if nobody has changed my mind about them yet I very seriously doubt you will now.
Actually, I am looking forward to the new Enuff Z’nuff album with Jake E. Lee on guitars. If the next Firehouse album is as good as Primetime, I will look forward to that one as well.
Waiting for the release of the next Danger Danger album ??? WHAT ??? How about Stryper & Enuff Z’nuff ?? Oh, let’s not forget Firehouse & Trixter !!!
My God,..please.