I don't know where to begin with this CD. The CD cover is about as well designed as any CD I have ever owned. It wasn't just an amazing CD cover that caught my attention. The inside sleeve folds out to reveal band members and the usual "I would like to thank" messages along with production and performance credits. The fold out sleeve reveals a photoshop created picture by Nicole Schoepflin. It consists of a picture of the band looking into a martini glass with obvious excitement over the content of the glass. You'll actually need to purchase the CD to see the content of the glass but a hint is Julie Marie Davies (I'm not very good at keeping secrets). The actual CD is nothing short of major label quality in design. The band logo designed by Mary Lawing is first class as she obviously has a complete and total grasp on photo editing and logo design. Photographers included Jim McGuire (cover) and additional photography by Chris Johnson. Then it's time for the content of the actual CD.

Wes and Chris Johnson are third generation performers that have followed in the proud tradition of The Johnson Family Singers. Their father, Kenneth, had been a part of early broadcasting history performing songs from sacred to secular. The Johnson Family Singers recorded for Columbia and RCA and had their own CBS network radio show. Wes Johnson, the bands lead vocalist sounds as if his vocal training was for a Broadway stage and not a pop band. His vocal phrasing along with many of his lyrics had to be forced to fit the music. It was like writing a song for one chord progression and beat only to discover at the last second the vocals are going on a completely different song. Maybe I'm wrong but I can't imagine anyone else in pop music that phrased like Wes and got away with it other then B-52s vocalist Fred Schneider and he got away with it because he had two amazing female vocalists to foot the bill.

The CD starts off with a song 'Terrible Time.' I almost clicked the skip track button. I forced myself to listen to the opening couple minutes before the song moved from some cabaret offering and took a turn for the better. After the song changed to a more 80's New Wave song with a great chorus and reverb drenched guitar work I was pleased that I didn't hit the skip track button. Hardcore Lounge does from time to time feature Allison Rose who was mentioned as background vocals on the inside CD sleeve. She might have been the singer for the only song on the CD that I actually liked. Track 5, Industry Standard featured a female vocalist and I am to assume her name is Allison Rose as she was not given credit as the vocalist on the CD. Her voice had a Chrissie Hynde kind of sensuality to it. The song was almost hit quality had it not been for that desending bass line that NEVER changed. It started to drive me crazy after a while and distroyed the buzz the song created for me.

One thing of note, had the CD featured Allison as the main vocalist and Wes as a background vocalist the CD may have been worth sitting through. As it was 11 songs with Wes Johnson singing off Broadway/Pop tunes was just a bit more then I could take.

This is a classic case of the cover vastly exceeded the content. This is a shame because the music was very good. I just could not handle Johnson's vocals.

The CD was very well recorded. Every instrument was perfectly placed within the expected sound stage. Wes's vocals had excellent depth and detail dispite my issues with his voice. Produced by the Johnson family, Chris, Wes and Paul, basic tracks engineered by Steve Pugh and the heavy lifting was handled by Paul Jensen with final mastering done by Dave Harris of Studio B Mastering.

My issues aside, this is how a CD should look and sound. Nothing short of 100% professional at every level. From graphic design and photography to studio recording, mixing and mastering. I might not suggest this CD as something that would be played over and over in my CD player but I would suggest that EVERY up and coming independent artist should buy this CD and study the professional quality of every phase of the project. It is the best overall package I have seen from any artist, major or independent. Just wished I would have liked the music!