When Sugar Red Drive’s sophomore album, A Story of Signs dropped in my lap I was surprised to discover they hail from Poughkeepsie, New York. My entire family grew up there, so there came an immediate hopefulness that the band would live up to the feel good nature of my childhood memories. Before I even slid the disc in the player I discovered not one, but two of rock’s most talented songwriter/producers had a hand in helping with this record.
Brian Howes (Halestorm, Hinder, Rev Theory, Puddle of Mudd) wrote and produced the album’s lead-off single, “No Apologies”. The remainder of the album was produced by Skidd Mills (Saving Abel, Sick Puppies, Saliva, 12 Stones) who just finished Egypt Central’s explosive new album, White Rabbit.
So far, so good. Now to the music. The band wrote every track on the album except the aforementioned track by Howes. From the opening riff of “Comin’ Down” it’s clear the band can write as well as play. The song has something of a Cheap Trick vibe on the pre-verse bridge, but the rest of the song is a ballsy, driving romp, full of hooks and melody. This rolls quite nicely into the grooving anthem to self-medicating escape “500 Miles” (from sober). Guitarist Jim Knauss really gets cooking on this one.
1. Comin' Down
2. Water 'N' Wine
3. 500 Miles
4. Overdrive
5. Pretty Little Lady
6. Grace
7. Miller's Daughter
8. Jaded
9. No Apologies
10. One More Time
11. Harder To Smile
12. Marching Man
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Sugar Red Drive – A Story Of Signs (2012)