11/9 NU Jams Review

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Shipwreck Island Studios.com
Review of THE PRISONER by VENTURE
Review by JERE

Track By Track Breakdown

1. The Prisoner - Even though this song is called The Prisoner it certainly doesn't take any (prisoners that is) as right from the opening note this relatively unknown band from Dallas/Fort Worth Texas unleashes their first full length album on the hard rock world. Throughout the entire track this group keeps the intensity on high as they manage to incorporate driving vocals with some elaborate songwriting. Everything about this song is what encompasses the best values in modern rock but Venture also remember to make sure to hold true to what makes hard rock such an emotional genre. Vocalist Blake Self is without a doubt a voice who can hold his own when it comes to belting out power choruses and with this being the lead off track he doesn't waste much time giving listeners an earful. The singer's job is one of the hardest as not only does he have to match the rest of the band in their delivery but he has to be able to move the song forward and keep the listeners in the palm of his hand. One song into this album and already I can tell that Blake is up to the challenge and more importantly is willing to prove himself by going past his own limits and I think The Prisoner definitely shows the potential he has and now comes the time to impress others.

2. All That I Need - Has more of an alternative influence behind the opening guitars so it takes a little while before things begin to fall into place on this song. The main chorus is a little more difficult to find however once it does take form listeners get a well structured piece of songwriting that leaves a more profound effect. All That I Need is able to combine a mid-tempo structure with an intricate build up and I think even though this song isn't as driven in terms of it's arrangement the song manages to have tremendous staying power well after it's over with. The band is able to turn the tables here and work more with structure that fits well into the alternative/modern rock scene. Granted when it comes to this specific sub-genre of rock you're limited to what you can do yet with Venture they feel like one of the up and coming groups that have the opportunity to provide fans with material that is able to stand on its own. With a song like All That I Need Venture unquestionably has the talent to take them places if their willing to work hard and give the ultimate sacrifice for their art form.

3. My Own - The band turns the intensity back around returning to driving modern rock riffs as My Own dives into a heavy/raw sound. Blake is able to channel his voice into another stellar performance continuing to impress me with every vocal he lays down. Once more Venture returns to the power chorus formula managing to put all their emotion into it and once again it ends up paying off since All That I Need was more laid back this is more of a return to form for the band. For a first full length album these guys have managed to pay attention to every little detail on this release thus far. To hear a group the likes of this be able to harness all the key elements into one driving sound shows that they have a great chemistry together which in turn down the road will take them places. So far it looks as if Venture are compiling a collection of solid rock songs that as their careers continue to evolve will being up a great foundation that they can build from even further.

4. Fallen Angel - A huge upbeat riff comes exploding out of the speakers before the song drops down in tone to combine another epic hard rock anthem with an emotional build up. One would think that Venture would trip up sooner or later but Fallen Angel sees them yet again put forth another solid piece of songwriting that focuses on the massive harmonies brought forth from Blake's impressive range. While it is somewhat limited he is able to differentiate between the soothing delivery that evolves into the main chorus by still retaining all the essential qualities to be a dynamic rock singer. The rest of the band is very much still in the zone as they are given some breathing room on this song while still being able to match Blake in nearly every transition that he goes through.

5. Impossible - Has a more darker feel in the opening notes but quickly develops into yet another energetic rock anthem and it actually leaves me in awe how this group has been able to keep the passion of this album in check with each song that has been unleashed thus far. What is even more impressive is a band the likes of Venture are obviously getting the formula down right, knowing how to build up tracks in all the proper methods, and most importantly aren't slowing down that much to show off their variety. I mean sure you need variety in order to keep things sounding fresh but in terms of a modern rock band having the freedom to give listeners songs that incorporate the best of current traits without over doing it. Impossible pretty much trumps all the previous material featured by giving everyone all the best qualities whether it be the songwriting, the delivery, the infectious chorus, or Venture themselves taking certain risks. The finished product here is something that both the bands and rock fans should be proud of.

6. On My Way - Brings forth mid-tempo qualities with additional compelling modern rock intensity that shows everyone that Venture is a band that is willing to go the distance and beyond. On My Way relies more on layering in both the delivery and the songwriting which seems to be intricately built up that lets the band show even more of their flair for their craft. Most contemporary bands can use certain approaches in order to hook you but usually it will come down to methods that have become a bit clichéd since the height of the post grunge era. The way that this composition is done it can incorporate a mix of guitar playing that is half modern with a mix from the classic era of rock (although it takes more listens to hear the classic influences). What I like most about this album thus far is it has an interesting way of changing things up since Impossible was a clear cut rock anthem On My Way goes somewhat darker in it's feeling and that's what helps in keeping this release consistently fresh. As the halfway point is now here Venture have thus far kept up their end of the bargain by giving the world a unique form of modern rock that has quality infused into it. Time will play a pivotal role to see how they do on the rest of the disc.

7. Without A Doubt - If there was one song on this entire release that lives up to the name it was given than without a doubt this the heaviest song throughout the whole album. Cheap puns aside the guys don't fool around here as they have come into this track without any qualms in giving listeners something that will rock and will do so with such determination it is almost hard to believe that this band has just released their debut album. These guys, up to this point, have gone past expectations and what is really impressive is how evenly placed the track listing is as just as one would think the album would deter off course it manages to provide hard rock fans with musicianship that doesn't only have the quality factor but it also has enough diversity to not drag the overall attitude of the album down. In all actuality it's extremely hard to find a contemporary band that can stick to the basics while changing things up.

8. Hold You Down - Returning to an alternative influence this mid-tempo number almost conveys the emotion of a ballad however the band milks the main chorus for all it's worth joining the passionate harmony vocals with some dominating guitars. It's almost as if Hold You Down sees an interesting chemistry between power pop and hard rock and it's almost a completely weird feeling to hear Venture integrate a different vibe into the album but again that's whats keeping this release so unique in the first place. Vocalist Blake Self is once more giving another stellar performance as he can go through several different emotions before he finally unleashes everything into the overpowering main chorus and even though he can fit into that mold that so many other contemporary rock vocalists can as well there is a infatuation with his voice that when you hear it has a power to it that is very compelling.

9. Goodbye - Once again this band gets back to providing gripping hard rock that doesn't falter in any noticeable ways. Goodbye pretty much compliments the heavy tones that were set on Without A Doubt but in my opinion there is way more passion behind the performances here. As the album continues forward it really is hard to play favorites since with every passing song it feels that Venture are really coming into their own. That right there is very difficult to do so early on in a their career yet somehow they've managed to capture lightning in a bottle over and over again. This song further cements the fact that there are rock bands out there nowadays still willing to take risks and do things their own way in order to make a name for themselves and Venture are not backing down one bit.

10. Give Me Your Pain - With the album beginning to come to a end it's like I'm almost waiting to see and hear when this band will falter in their demeanor. The band continues to dominate with a guitar driven blockbuster that refuses to give listeners a slow song. The main riff is just a sonic assault of heavy guitar playing joined with a much darker mood resulting in perhaps the darkest sounding track on The Prisoner. It is quite shocking to hear a band likes this keep hammering track after track of brutal hard rock out with relative ease. Most bands would of tapped out to mainstream trends with the inclusion of some material that is pop oriented in order to get a track on hit radio but I think the way Venture approached the recording and songwriting on this album is the big reason that they haven't lost their edge.

11. Remember You - It comes as no surprise that Venture continues to mount another assault of guitars on listeners and from the opening notes this group doesn't have time to disappoint since their more concerned with supplying the world with more quality hard rock. It's a strange feeling as here is a band that seems to be only complimenting one another with every passing song and Remember You features everything that this group has incorporated into the last ten songs including a killer hook, strong choruses, distinctive songwriting, and enough raw emotion to making contemporary rock significant once again. This group has the right chemistry and in my opinion it will only be a matter of time before they break out of their shell to expand their fan base worldwide.

12. Push - Everything concludes as only a true rock album should with Venture giving everyone perhaps their best performance on the entire album. No scratch that, this is the best outing from this band as the old saying goes saving the best for last. Well Venture do exactly that pulling out all the stops by throwing everything into the mix. This band has not held back over the span of the album and they certainly don't here either. Blake puts on a vocal performance that goes beyond what he has recorded on previous attempts at one point he lets out a very primal scream that would fit right in the death metal scene however thankfully he switches back to rock front man mode to finish the rest of the song. If this group doesn't go on to bigger and better things in the next year or so than we can lay blame directly on the state of things in the industry but I truly think a band the likes of Venture won't be contained for long and are willing to bring true modern rock back into the current scene.

The Rundown

If one were to look up the term Venture in the dictionary there would be a wide assortment of definitions but the most definitive one would be the following: An undertaking that is dangerous, daring, or of uncertain outcome. When comparing that definition to the state that the industry is currently at it is disturbing how accurate that description truly is. For any musician/artist to try and build a career from scratch and try to maintain longevity after you break into mainstream popularity is an undertaking that no matter who you are or whatever risks you try to take there is always going to remain an uncertain outcome with upholding a career. Now if we take that definition and apply it to where the contemporary rock scene has been for the last few years it results in the same outcome since with certain trends being used over and over again it's become a scene that has become plagued with bands copying the same ideas over and over again to the point that it is almost sickening to hear little to no distinction from band A as opposed to band B. While the risks have always coherently been there throughout the history of the music industry the facts are that if you take the risks to become famous beyond mere words you'll face the demons that this industry has to offer. In other words putting all your fate into the music industry to help build a career may seem like a good idea at the beginning but once reach a certain amount of recognition before everything comes crashing back down. In my opinion if you're willing to 100% trust the way things are now and believe that the mainstream music scene will have your back than that mentality will quite honestly lead to career suicide. Like the old saying goes - If you live by the sword you die by the sword. It's just that plain and simple.

For the upstart group that hails from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area taking on the moniker of Venture the group name itself was the first dangerous undertaking in their career. It's actually surprising that no popular artist out there today hasn't taken the name already but perhaps it was the perilous danger that would come with the venture into the unknown basically. Names don't traditionally make the band but they still remain noteworthy since people will generally associate a band on their name to the energy and passion that they put behind their musicianship. Venture will certainly live up to their name as they take on a undertaking that will take them into a career full of dangers and a wide amount of outcomes that will remain unsure since no one knows where things will lead. With a wide variety of other bands out there taking on the treacherous hazards that the industry will constantly throw at them very few can rise up past the pressures in order to maintain stability while still having the chances to push the envelope. For Venture they take the music industry head on with the release of their first full length debut. Will this band be able to rise up through the modern rock domain to stand out in the crowd? Or will the undertakings that Venture take result in a product that really doesn't have any foreseen result. Either way Venture are willing to take all the chances to go beyond the usual modern acts that have lost that sense of quality. A venture will always remain dangerous but in the end that is what makes them so exciting in the first place.


+'s (Positives)

+ Edgy Modern Rock: In a scene that is incredibly stale The Prisoner simply could be called a breath of fresh air. Once Venture fire through the first song they keep bringing the momentum on nearly each and every performance. All the tracks consist of enough forceful energy to give listeners thought-provoking songwriting mixed with heavy guitars. It's actually quite sad that modern rock, for the most part, is one dimensional but every so often there will come a group who are willing to go to extreme lengths to make an impact and Venture have definitely given people a rock album that won't hold anything back. The Prisoner is a release that was simply needed as even though there are times I can't stand the contemporary scene Venture is a reason to be proud of what can be done when current traits are used in the right ways.

+ No Ballads/Soft Songs: This was actually quite the surprise. A majority of the time it is recommended that a modern band take things down a notch and show their soft side and Venture decided not to go this route at all. That's not saying there are some songs that come across as laid back and mid-tempo in nature but in terms of a true ballad there are none to be found on this disc. Nothing is wrong with putting a ballad on an album but even today it can be overdone, so to hear a group like Venture focus on giving people a release that sticks to being a solid piece of hard rock is quite refreshing. The fact that they went this route is a prime example of making a daring statement and living up to their name.

+ Durable Production: 2007 has been one of those years where several modern productions have paid off and The Prisoner is another fine example of just how well modern production values can bring about the best in a band. Venture have put their fate into mixers/producers Brett Hestla (of Dark New Day/Creed fame) and Justin Thomas and they in turn have given this album a sonic makeover. Not only that but every song has a commanding feel that can be largely attributed to this production. This may very well go down as the year's best productions since everything about this album is pretty much done in grand fashion. If that is not enough legendary producer Beau Hill (Ratt, Winger, Warrant, Europe, the list goes on and on) did some of the final mixes of this disc. So if the signs were not any clearer Venture are destined for success.


-'s (Negatives)

- Fits Into The Contemporary Mold: I'm sure there will be some out there that will hear this album and just pass it off as another modern rock band that is following the trends set down in the post grunge/alternative era but if you're willing to give this band the chance I still think they will be able to impress those who are quick to judge. Venture puts forth a release that is consistent in terms of quality and they have definitely gone the accurate course by bringing in all the right people to help them make The Prisoner a great rock album. If anyone has been disappointed with the state of the hard rock scene as it stands now this release is simply required listening.

Overall

Every so often there will come a time where I will be introduced, one way or another, to a band that I've never heard of and after I hear some of their material my reaction will be one of just pure shock. This year I haven't heard that many upcoming acts that could actually garner that reaction out of me but then a few months back I got an add request on my myspace profile from a group simply named Venture. As I clicked on their profile I wasn't expecting that much but once I heard the first song on their player I knew that this group was on their way to becoming superstars. I immediately got in touch with their management and requested a promo of, at the time, their current EP entitled Silver Lining but once I got a return message I was quickly told that the band would have a full length album ready by September. With that news came three months of playing the waiting game but I was able to feed my hunger by logging on to Venture's myspace daily to listen to the songs were up. That's basically the power of the internet age at its best folks. Being able to discover new and upcoming bands through social networking sites like myspace.com simply makes life easier as it's one of the most powerful marketing tools out there for independent artists.

Even with Venture currently being an independent artist they've already managed to make quite the name for themselves in the three years since forming opening for bands the likes of Godsmack. Not only that but as I mentioned above legendary producer Beau Hill brought his platinum touch to the final mixes. Those two accolades alone should make the entire rock genre stand up and take notice as Venture are clearly on the right path to becoming the next big thing out of Texas. Logically bands don't come into their own in such a short period of time but somehow Venture have managed to find their own sound and have released a debut album that in this day in age shouldn't be as powerful as it is. The Prisoner actually goes beyond a rare occurrence as this band was obviously able to strike a nerve early on and bring forth ambitious songwriting that when it's first heard shows a maturity that a majority of other up and coming acts don't have. In my opinion it's not a question of if these guys will break into the limelight as they have already managed created a buzz in the alternative scene. Nope I think the question that remains is when will things in the industry change for the better? Here is a group that has managed to build a career in three short years and they've recorded material that could very well be put in the leagues of modern rock giants like Fuel and Default. Many out there would say that good things come to those who wait but for a group like this the waiting game is over. The only question I have left is will the rest of the world be prepared? Bands don't come along like this very often so as Venture continue to mature while they support their debut there will come a moment where more attention will be focused on them. It's simply a matter of time before the tides change and Venture will be sitting on top of the rock world.

As far as the final product goes one will not find a better modern rock album in 2007. That's right you read that correctly this is my pick for the best modern album of the year. While newer bands like Cinder Road and Eve To Adam give some very tough competition and more established groups like Fuel and 12 Stones have managed to reemerge with a newfound energy behind their musicianship it's Venture who have managed to shake things up in the modern rock industry. Undoubtedly there will be those who won't agree and feel that this is just another group that is trying to make the best of fads that have remained the norm for far too long but it's recommended that you at least give this group a chance. All the right components are in place and Venture make sure to use them to the very best of their abilities. There haven't been that many artists willing to take chances this year and since this is Venture's first full studio effort everything is on the line. Now is the time for you, the music fan, to throw caution to the wind and get involved with this venture. I have a feeling that if you're a fan of modern rock and you've been looking for a band to step up to the bar and bring everything they have you'll end up liking this release just as much as me. Consequently if you detest everything about today's rock scene I still urge you to check out what Venture has done here as the surprise lays within the music, just give it a chance and let it consume you as odds are it will end up being a very unexpected reaction.

First impressions are the hardest to make especially in the case of a band that is still very much in it's introductory stages and with the first album starting to establish careers the time has come for Venture to put the full weight of The Prisoner to the final test before passing over the threshold to rock superstardom. All four of these musicians can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they have created a massive debut however now the time has come for them to live up their name since their careers will be moving forward at breakneck speed. Whatever happens next I feel Venture managed to move past any preliminary inexperience by focusing on delivering a rock album that goes above and beyond the boundaries set by mainstream standards.