I reviewed Orianthi’s Live from Hollywood, CD, released on July 15, 2022, this summer. But Orianthi is back, with a new studio album, Rock Candy, and it is incredible!
Rock Candy, was released 10/14/2022, on Frontiers Music S.r.l. The album features one of the world’s greatest female guitarists, Orianthi Panagaris; who also sings all vocals and plays lightning sharp lead guitar. Jacob Bunton, plays bass, guitar, keyboards, piano, violin, and sings backing vocals; and Kyle Cunningham, slams the powerful drums.
Orianthi Panagaris is a platinum-selling recording artist and world class guitarist, and Rock Candy, keeps that energy flowing non-stop. I also reviewed Orianthi’s 2020’s studio album, O, which, at the time, was her first new studio album in seven years and her first new music as a solo artist in six years. This album picks up where O left off; shining like a star. Orianthi, in case you don’t know her, has played guitar with the likes of global superstars like: Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Carrie Underwood, Alice Cooper and more.
Every song on this album is a dynamic rock performance. There is a ‘playing live’ feeling to this whole album. She does like to perform and you can feel it in each chord lick she plays, and the emotional lyrics she sings.
“Illuminate” is a beautiful intro and prelude to the album, complete with soft keyboards and Orianthi’s guitar roaring all over it. Get set, she is about to take off!
“Light It Up”, is a foot-stomping rocker that will make you stand up and dance or race to the stage. The accompanying music video gives you a peek into what it would be like to be front and center, at one of her live shows. She loves to perform and this album kick off, is just the right speed to start this album. Just remember, “You can’t see the lights when you’re looking down”. An incredible album and show opener. Enjoy.
“Fire Together”, is another good, heavy rocker. The song is about driving down highway 101, on the oceanside, with your mate. “I feel good. No stop signs up ahead. Let’s live a little on the edge. We come alive at night. Just want to live forever. When you’re next to me, we’re fire together”. How can you not like this? Perfect guitar work over fun, romantic lyrics.
On “Where Did Your Heart Go”, not everything is happily ever after. This is a beautiful but sad, break-up song, which shows Orianthi’s emotional ability to bring heartbreaking lyrics and vocals together well, with soft rhythmic electric guitar; which will take you back to what I would compare to an SRV/Johnny Lang/Kenny Wayne Shepherd sound. The music video makes this experience complete.
“Red Light”, opens with a blast of power guitar. It reminds me of fellow Australians, Hoodoo Guru’s “Where Nowhere Is”, “Party Machine”, or “Hell for Leather”. A real party rocker, for sure. Orianthi’s “Why, why, why’s” are wonderful. The guitar jams are wonderful. Thanks for bringing this sound out again. Worth the price of admission alone.
“Void”, has a cool, crawling bass that will pull you in, along with the rhythmic drums. The acid guitar chords rear up like an angry horse, so cool. One of Orianthi’s best vocal tracks. When she sings the word “void” it is like a magic. The guitar soloing is magical.
“Burning”, has a feeling of the sound of the Black Keys. Orianthi’s vocals are great and her guitar work is excellent. The deep grooves she hits are very memorable, along with the ripping guitar solos. A cool love song, she sings, “You lay me down in a bed of diamonds”.
“Living Is Like Dying Without You”, is a sad break-up memory song, set, this time, to acoustic guitar. She sings, “Living is like dying without you. I’m so addicted just like the games you like to play. You’re my best friend. You’re my enemy. You’re the love of my life. The only one who can make me bleed”. Deep emotions, for sure.
Be careful, we just passed Halloween; “Witches & The Devil”, takes on the evil that we all encounter every day. Full of cool spacey keys and brutal guitar. Living in a difficult place emotionally, mentally or in some rough cities and towns. Its all here. Confronted by evil constantly, is a difficult place to be. She speaks as if from experience. A powerful, heavy rocker, with a serious message.
“Getting To Me”, is another great A&M rocker. Orianthi talks about being tough and fighting for your values and securing your own life and sanity.
“Illuminate (Part II)”, is a return to the opening intro, but this time, with some cool keyboard work before Orianthi steals the show with unforgettable guitar soloing, augmented with beautiful violin and strings near the end.
This is an excellent rock album full of the music that I grew up with, like Stevie Ray Vaughan and all the blues rockers like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones. Someone is still out there making this wonderful blues-oriented rock, and her name is Orianthi. She is producing the kind of powerful guitar-driven music we all love and need. So, get out there and get this album to experience it all; again, and again. Reward her with the purchase and keep one of the world’s best guitarists making more incredible music. Thanks, Orianthi.
Track List:
1. Illuminate (Part I)
2. Light It Up – Video
3. Fire Together – Video
4. Where Did Your Heart Go – Video
5. Red Light
6. Void
7. Burning
8. Living Is Like Dying Without You
9. Witches & The Devil
10. Getting To Me
11. Illuminate (Part II)
Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Orianthi/
https://www.instagram.com/iamorianthi/?hl=en