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Album Details

• Artist: Ra
• Album: From One
• Label: Umvd
• Year of Release: 2002
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: hstisgod on 2006-11-24

Are you 20-30 years of age? Did you grow up during the end of the vinyl, Def Leppard “Hysteria” days? You wont be able to purchase “From One” in vinyl, but you may be able to re-visit your Glam Rock days with an appetizing sampling of the NuMetal sound you have be seduced with over the last few years.

Easy does it as the intro blends in. The Middle Eastern voice inflections, and drum beat entice an immediate eyebrow raising for your first reaction to track one, the mood setting, "Do you call my name". Drop D guitar freaks can relax, the next installment of fun harmonics has just arrived. Flashing back during random moments of this album is the sometimes embarrassing truth of my initial music purchasing days.

This album brings back a time when White Lion, Guns N Roses, and Bon Jovi were on my childhood Christmas' lists. Laugh all you want, these are the days in which I learned how to form an independent opinion of pop culture music. Just as I’ll never run from my childhood roots as little Long Island boy, I shall never abandon my Glam rock days again.

For years I was embarrassed to know the lyrics to “All My Life” by Slaughter. Those days are since gone now that RA has come along and destroyed that insecurity with its sound of Glam/Nu Metal. Although Nu Metal has been outcasted personally for years, its been stamped acceptable on From One.

Soaked in deep one stroke chords, the entire 52:47 is some how unique in its hybrid of the last 20 years in Rock sound. Of course no Glam Rock like effort would be complete without the high-ranged front man (lead singer). The booklet refers to him simply as Sahaj.

Sahaj certainly grabs your attention on the catchy track six “Violator”. Also released in the United States as a radio single, this song a represents the entire effort in whole. Simple lyrics accompanied by simple guitar, and contagious drum contributions.

Although Track 7 “I Believe” has a bit more content lyrically, it’s the same format we have all become accustomed to since the mainstreaming of rock music. Slow intro bridged into a infectious chorus that will follow you through the day, or until your next musical escapade. “I believe in a world that can make you high….In a place where patience can prevail. In a Sky where sunshine breaks the clouds…I believe in a thought that can set you free.. And the seeds of hatred always fail… in a mind that hears its heartbeat loud”.

Perhaps in an attempt to earn the attention of the aggressive rock fans, Track eight “Parole” comes out quick, and hard. While I can testify to hearing Sahaj take this song to the range of untouchables such as Chris Cornell, and Bruce Dickinson, lyrically once again this effort is a bit shallow. It if rhymes write it down, drown it out in plastic chords, and repeat thoroughly till all 3:54 is complete.

Track 10 “Skorn” starts out amazingly similar to Korn in their days of inspiring stylish edge (o where have those days gone to?!?!?). Cheesy vocal bridges shine in on the track, and leave me stranded somewhere between metal and stonewash jeans.

Saving these guys from the overwhelmingly dull predictability of standard Pop/Metal is the ballad "Walking and Thinking". Not so much the song but its placement that saves them. This track does NOT come last, as most artists have been doing. Instead it comes second to last, (laughs).

From One may perhaps be the most of ridiculously perfect titles. From one second of each track will grab you’re attention, then lose it as it attempts to satisfy another genre hopper. As previous reviews will suggest, I’m the poster boy for mixing diverse genre. However once again, nothing exceeds like excess, and perhaps its the excess that makes this generational album so expendable. Yo! RA, thanks for the inspiration to not care what genre I was awoken to. Great effort, just stop worrying about who buys your music. Harness that energy into your own sound, until so, this album sits in the emergency pawn shop pile.

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