The Band
| Greatness | Heaviness | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| The best stuff on earth. We're not worthy! |  |
Like a leaf | |
| Most excellent music |  |
You can juggle with this stuff | |
| Enjoy the melodies | |
No problem, I can handle that | |
| Hmmm....background music | |
Get off your backside and rock! | |
| They call themselves a rock band..... | |
Bloody osmium mate | |
Neverland hit the music scene at the beginning of the 90s as a four piece Californian rock band. They released their self-titled debut on Interscope in 1991 which is an amazing record, and also had one of their songs, "Drinking Again", appear on the soundtrack to "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey" (although it was actually the song "For the Love" that appeared in the film!).
The debut was well-received by all who heard it but had limited sales. The band toured to support the album, but they split up afterwards. Dean left, but according to Patrick Sugg, he "was kind of kicked out as he was really hard to get along with at times and hard to work with. All of us in the band, and all the people at the record company were fed up with him so we parted ways".
Too bad, but Dean went on to sing in "Revolution Child" and the excellent "Tribe of Gypsies". For info on these two check out my Revolution Child Page and Tribe of Gypsies Page .
In 1996, Neverland reformed with a new vocalist "Bump", who was way below the singing qualities of Dean, to release "Surreal World" in Europe (it was never released in the U.S.). Scott Garrett only recorded on half the tracks before he went off to play with "The Cult". Kevin Valentine (ex-Shadow King) fills in for the rest of the tracks.
However, "Surreal World" was no way up to the standards of the original Neverland debut, and the relatively poor quality of the songs make this album an average record as opposed to a superb one.
Having released "Surreal World", Neverland disbanded. The record was obviously recorded some time before it was finally released, as Patrick Sugg and Scott Garett had already formed a new band by then with Ian Astbury, the former singer of The Cult, called the Holy Barbarians. They released an album called "Cream" in 1996 (I think) on Warner Bros. in the U.K. and Beggars Banquet in Europe. They toured for about 10 months in '96 in the U.S. and England and all over Europe.
Latest News
Latest News
Patrick Sugg and Gary Lee have fromed a band with Ahmet Zappa, the youngest son of the late Frank Zappa, called SLEEPS 9. They are currently playing shows around Los Angeles and recording. According to Patrick "the band sounds great and we totally rock, I'm really happy with it, I think its by far the best stuff I've ever written. "
Surreal World (1996)
Five years have passed since Neverland's self-titled debut and now they are back with a sophomore jinx album - "Surreal World". With its great title and superb cover art, the music is just not up to the standard of the 1991 debut.
A lot has changed in the time between. Interscope Records were not interested in the new material, so Escape Music have released "Surreal World" in Europe and, as far as I know, the album has not been released in the States. Strange seeing the band hail from California, but that's how the music industry goes.
Neverland's stunning lead vocalist, Dean Ortega, has left the band, as has drummer Scott Garrett, who plays on half the tracks on "Surreal World". The new drummer is Kevin Valentine, ex-Shadow King, and the new vocalist - Bump. Yeah, that's his name!
Bump's voice is very good, able to produce a varitey of vocal styles, but it would take a lot to surpass the talents of Dean Ortega. However, it is the songs in this album which don't do justice to the band's former effort. The debut offered us light, punchy, melodic rock with great tunes and superb musicianship, while "Surreal World" offers us nothing more than standard rock songs. The sound is more nineties with a funkier edge and heavier guitars, but there is nothing special in this record.
Most of the songs tend to blend together due to the rather poor and indistinct production. Of the tracks that stick out, "Live Again" is a lovely acoustic ballad with a Beatles influence, "She Never Noticed" is an energetic rocker that makes you to get up out of your chair, and "Paradise" is a slower hard hitting rocker with a strong drum beat. The final track, "Frustration" has some classy lyrics and a catchy chorus which ends the album well.
The rest of the tracks seem to be largely based on one or two guitar riffs which dominate the whole of a song and don't gain the band any credit for musical talent. Influences include Badfinger, The Kinks, Cheap Trick and David Bowie.
Track Listing :
1. Leave Me Alone 2. She Never Noticed 3. Fingers are Pointing 4. Paradise 5. Surreal World 6. Anytime, Anywhere 7. Live Again 8. The Curtain is Drawn 9. Talkin' to Alice 10. Dirty People 11. Frustration
Neverland (1991)
Neverland (1991)
An great album in which all the songs are brilliant. The songs are all the same sort of style of light melodic rock.
1. Running On :
An excellent start to the album. Fast and rockable and blimmin' class! The lead guitarist is just brilliant in this song. You can move to this song.
2. Crying All Night : 8/10
Another emotional song with brilliant music and vocals. The chorus is pretty catchy. Cool light rock.
3. Take Me Higher : 8/10
A nice melodic vocals intro which turns rocky when the drums come in. The chorus is jazzy and catchy.
4. Drinking Again :
Well, what can I say? A brilliant track with real emotion. Rock it! The lead guitarist is amazing. There are bits where the music builds up to the rocky bits and it's well effective. The song isn't too fast but it really moves. Ace!
5. 10 000 Years : 8/10
A really nice melodic track. The guitar plays broken chords in acoustic and there is also orchestration and they fit together really well.
6. Lean On Me : 8/10
Not a very rocky track but it's the kind of song that you want to sing along to during the chorus.
7. Mama Said : 8/10
Another one that isn't very rocky. It's fairly slow but is still quite good and melodic. The lyrics are good and there's an emotional part just before the solo.
8. My Opion : 8/10
More rockier than the previous two but still pretty light. Nothing special but it's bouncy and merry!
9. Time to Let Go : 8/10
Another merry track but better and more catchy than the previous.
10. Talking to You :
A stylisha dn atmospheric intro with a simple guitar line and added effects such as a harmonica and pan pipes or something. The vocals enters and then the drums enter and the song goes into rock mode. The chorus is brilliant to sing (or shout) along with.
11. For the Love :
Short drum intro and then straight into rock mode with a cool guitar riff. After the second chorus there is a massive instrumental with all sorts of guitar parts and then the chorus comes back. The ending, though, is too abrupt and you can't see it coming at that point.
For Sale
| Neverland | 1991 | CD Album |
|---|---|---|
| The rare and essential debut. New copy. | ||
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