Rock has found its newest superstar: Canada’s Johnny DeMarco, and with the talent and song catalogue already there, all he has to do is reach out and take the musical world in his hands.
DeMarco’s latest album Living out Our Dreams is a masterpiece any rock fan should be clambering to get his or her hands on.
Filled with new songs destined to be timeless classics, DeMarco only needs the exposure to make that a reality.
Consistently amazing in every aspect from the opening notes to the last vocal, Living out Our Dreams and DeMarco’s persona resonates with the taste and talents of another great rocker; Bryan Adams.
The album opens with a tinkle of notes that effortlessly flow into an airy musical arrangement that draws the listener in. As soon as DeMarco’s voice comes on, with its succulent blend of romance and rasp, listeners will be hooked.
Living out Our Dreams, the title track and opening song is catchy and perfectly showcases DeMarco’s unique voice.
DeMarco may play it a little safe when it comes to range, sticking to growling lower tones, but when the results are as great as this album, that is hardly something to complain about.
Despite a limited showcasing of his range, DeMarco’s album is anything but boring and he takes his risks, all of which pay off and add to the diversity of the album, in other areas.
The second track Sunflower throws in a little island flavour to keep the songs sounding different and fresh, and despite personal original reservations, the song is one of the best and edgiest on the album; stemming from the juxtaposition of placing the sunny island vibe next to moodier rock undertones.
Easily the best song on the album, although every other song was not far behind, is Everything in Your Heart; which is also the song at the centre of the CD.
With its slow and tender opening once again only being pushed further by DeMarco’s vocal talent, the song is everything a rock ballad and love song should be. A little slower than most of the album, the song uses beautiful instrumentation to add depth and pace. Another refreshing aspect of the song is lyrics grounded in everyday life rather and a string of sweet nothings.
Overall, this is an entire album that has earned a permanent place on the iPod playlist.