 Ted Poley is a legendary singer known best for his work with the 80's Glam Rock/Hard Rock band, Danger Danger. The band is still going strong in 2016, but Ted has now created his 3rd solo album entitled Beyond The Fade. The album is filled with Melodic Rock masterpieces that fit perfectly into today's Rock radio. I recently got to ask Ted a few questions I had on my mind about how this album came to be. Check It Out!
That Drummer Guy: Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. I am thoroughly enjoying the new album, Beyond The Fade. I have my girlfriend to thank for showing me Danger Danger and been enjoying your work ever since. Ted Poley: THANK YOU FOR THE NICE WORDS! I AM HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU LIKE THE NEW CD. TDG: So what is the story behind Beyond The Fade? TP: THE TITLE REFERS TO THE FACT THAT I AM STILL RELEASING NEW MUSIC LONG AFTER MY STYLE OF MUSIC IS THE MOST POPULAR. IT FADED OUT IN 1993 BUT I AM STILL DOING IT. TDG: With this being the 3rd solo album you have done, what did you want to do different this time around? TP: I ALWAYS STAY TRUE TO MY SOUND BUT I WANTED TO TRY AND MAKE THIS AS EXPENSIVE SOUNDING AS POSSIBLE,,BY SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY! I FLEW TO ITALY TO RECORD THE VOCALS AND RENTED AN APARTMENT WHERE I LIVED AND I COULD FOCUS ON JUST RECORDING, NOT WORRYING ABOUT MY DAY TO DAY STUFF LIKE WHEN I AM HOME. ALSO I AM OLDER NOW AND ALSO MORE EXPERIENCED IN THE STUDIO SO I HAD A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT I WANTED. TDG: I especially love how uplifting and positive the album sounds, which is something missing from Rock music in 2016. Was that a conscious effort to make that happen? TP: NOT REALLY BUT I GUESS I GRAVITATE TOWARDS THAT SOUND WHEN CHOOSING OR WRITING THE SONGS. SO MAYBE AN "UN"CONSCIOUS EFFORT! TDG: With you also being a drummer, did you have much say of how you wanted the drums to sound and come across on the album? TP: HELL YEAH! I HAD A LOT TO DO WITH EVERY INSTRUMENT. AND THANKFULLY ALESSANDRO DELVECCHIO WHO PRODUCED THE CD, LET ME DO WHATEVER I WANTED BECAUSE HE SAW THAT I KNEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND TOGETHER WE CO PRODUCED THE CD INTO WHAT YOU HEAR. What are your personal favorite songs from the album? I LIKE "STARS" AND "HANDS OF LOVE" BUT THERE ALL PRETTY COOL. I LIKE THE FLOW OF THE CD. TDG: The album cover is one of my favorite album covers and really says a lot about change. How did you get this idea for the album cover? TP: I HAD THE IDEA OF ALL OF THE OLD TELEVISIONS AND RADIOS BEING SHIPPED OFF TO A JUNK PILE ON THE MOON AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COOL IF AN ASTRONAUT CAME UPON THEM AND FOUND SOME OF THEM TO BE MYSTERIOUSLY WORKING! AND THOSE THAT ARE WORKING HAVE IMAGES OF ME PLAYING ON THEM. SORT OF A "SCI-FI" THEME. TDG: Are there any plans on performing these songs live in the near future? TP: YES I HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLAYING "LETS START SOMETHING" AND ITS GOING OVER GREAT. TDG: Higher, Stars, and Hands Of Love have been chosen so far as a singles from the album. What made you want to choose those songs to represent the album before it comes out? TP: I DIDN'T CHOSE THE, FRONTIERS PICKED THE ONES THEY WANTED. I DIDN'T REALLY CARE WHICH ONES,THEY ALL CAME OUT PRETTY GOOD. TDG: Not really a question, but I just have to say, I really love your vocal delivery on Where I Lost You. It's a very relateable song and I love how you approach the song. TP: THANK YOU!!! ITS THE MOST "AMERICAN" SOUNDING TRACK. I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO DESCRIBE THAT ONE,,,GREAT GUITARS ON THAT TRACK TOO. TDG: Is there anything going on in the world of Danger Danger right now? TP: ALWAYS DOING LIVE SHOWS AND JUST HAVING FUN THESE DAYS. TDG: So what are your plans for the rest of the year? TP: I HAVE A COUPLE OF RECORDING PROJECTS LINED UP AS WELL AS A LOT OF LIVE SOLO SHOWS, MANY IN THE USA. AS WELL AS ON THE MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE IN THE FALL. THEN OFF TO JAPAN WITH DANGER DANGER FOR LOUDPARK16, A HUGE CONCERT. TDG: Is there anything you are currently listening to? TP: I LOVE A BAND CALLED 'DEGREED" FROM SWEDEN. CHECK THEM OUT! TDG: Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. It has been a tremendous honor to get to do this. Again, I am really digging Beyond The Fade a lot. Before we go is there anything else you would like to mention that I haven't brought up yet? TP: THANKS FOR ALL THE COOL COMMENTS AND FOR YOUR HELP PROMOTING THE NEW CD. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERYONE READING THIS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ALSO TO SAY PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL "NO-KILL" ANIMAL SHELTER WITH A SMALL DONATION TO HELP THE HOMELESS ANIMALS. THANKS FOR DOING THAT, I HAVE NICE FANS. SEE YA ON THE ROAD! Ted Poley- Beyond The Fade is available NOW through Frontier Music s.l.r. 
Bend Sinister is great band out of British Columbia that combines Classic Hard Rock, Indie Rock, and whether the band wants to admit it or not, Progressive Rock. The underground band just started getting some real recognition from their last album, Small Fame back in 2012 when drummer Mike Portnoy picked up on the band and showed interest. They are back with their 5th album (and 9th release overall), Animals, and it really is a fantastic showcase of how a band can show their diversity all while having it making sense.
The album starts off with the longest song on the album, Best Of You, which is a fantastic eight and a half minute masterpiece which takes you on a journey of sound. The lyrics are very inspirational and positive, which is missing in a lot of Rock music now a days. The first of two two main lyrical lines that are repeated is "This world ain't seen the best of you yet." A good message of keeping on, keeping on. With that message, the first half of the song is very upbeat with lots of great guitar and keyboard interludes. The second half of the song gets very slow and dramatic. throughout the second half of the song the only phrase sung is "And the world It brings you down. Keep your head up high and your feet on the ground." The more the phrase gets repeated, the more the song grows to be more and more epic and grand until it reaches it's climax of sound and brings you back down to the world (Ah ha, get it?). While a song like this would be best set for the end of an album, the band ahs said they chose this to be the first song because they feel it is the best son on the album and they want everyone to hear it. And a great choice that was. Now onto the rest of the album. Fancy Pants is the next song up, and it is very much a type of Indie Rock and Classic Rock song. Very upbeat with big choruses and even a trumpet in the song. During the middle of the song is slows down for a big "La La La" sing a long section and ends just as upbeat as it began. I Got Love is the equivalent of the scene in The Blues Brothers where Joliet Jake Blues becomes Born Again and dances in the Gospel Church. This song even features a Gospel Choir in sections. A very fun song to headbang to if your a rocker, and dance to if you can dance. Better Things To Do is another throw back to the Indie Rock/Pop Rock sound. The lyrics also have the same feel to it as well. It's a good mellow song after the speed of the last couple songs. Thunder And Lightning is the heaviest song on the album by far. The song is pure 70s Hard Rock in the vein of Deep Purple. It starts off with a Judas Priest style intro much like The Hellion segues into Electric Eye. From that point on it's pure Deep Purple and so cool. Fast, heavy, great 70s style vocals. The next song, Teacher, also goes into the 70's Hard Rock vibe. It starts off mellow with keyboard chords and builds up into a blazing Rock song. It resonates well as a mix between Deep Purple and Boston. It's safe to say that almost every song on the second half of the album has a deep love for 70s Hard Rock and Deep Purple. The song, Seventeen, also showcases this point very well. A slower track then the previous few, but very heavy Hard Rock with the Deep Purple keys. The album takes a break from the Hard Rock vibe and goes back into Indie Rock territory with the song You Remind Me. Even if you aren't into Indie music, the lyrics are very relatable when you hear them, especially if you are starting relationships. Through The Week is the slowest song on the album and a great ballad. Very piano driven and just a great lay back and chill song. It again harkens to the Classic Rock sound with their ballads. The album closes with the song It Will Never End, a great ending song to close the album. it starts upbeat and kinda Indie but a great heavy beat behind it so even rockers can really appreciate it. Just as you think the song is done it ends on the heaviest riff of the entire album. While short, it is almost as if they decided to be a Speed Metal band for a few seconds and then doing a proper grandiose ending to close out this killer album. It is easy to see why Prog fans are drawn to Bend Sinister. they don't just stick to one genre. While the band does not consider itself Prog, you can at least say they are very diverse and bring a lot of different offerings to the table. Whether you have a love for Classic Hard Rock, like Indie Rock, or just like music that has a lot of style changes all while making it sound like it fits. Bend Sinister is the band for you. And support these guys if you dig them. They are awesome guys that deserve all the attention they can get. - 4/5 Bend Sinister- Animals available NOW via FILE UNDER MUSIC - Josh Rundquist (That Drummer Guy) |
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