There has been a lot of media hype surrounding the new, soon-to-be-unleashed, super-rock group Platinum Weird and their amazing “back-story”. A convoluted – and primarily untrue - tale of lost love & fame and near miraculous meetings that lead to strong bonds of friendship and a creative partnership. It could qualify as a potential Disney Film or at the very least the Movie of the Week on Lifetime (or in the UK the Hallmark Chanel – yes, sadly in the UK Hallmark isn’t just a card, it’s also a crap TV channel).
Dave Stewart (formerly of the Eurythmics) and Kara DioGaurdi (go-to hit song writer for PCD, Celine Dion, Anastacia, Kyle Minogue, Santana, and many others) have joined forces to form this rock super-duo, Platinum Weird. Together they have created a sound that evokes images of Fleetwood Mac with vocals every bit as soulful and melancholy as Annie Lennox and lyrics that are all at once wistful and hopeful, romantic and unsentimental. They are obviously destined for legend status – although some people (me included) would argue Stewart has already achieved that.
But let us forget about all the hype, all the marketing, all the shite and really listen to the music. The music is more indie rock than would be expected of a former member of The Eurythmics and a hit writing songstress who has written music for Kelly Clarkson and Gwen Stefani among others. Stewart says he feels it has that 1970’s retro, Fleetwood Mac feel to it. You can hear it in some of the tracks -- particularly when you hear the ‘74 version of Happiness on Platinum Weird’s MySpace space.
“Happiness” is the first track on the Platinum Weird’s self-titled album and is an excellent example of both Stewart and DioGaurdi’s song writing style together and DioGuardi’s powerful soulful, stunning voice. She has every bit the bluesy, melancholy, rock-chick sound that is needed to rival both Annie Lennox and Stevie Nicks. Her vocals are deep, dusky, and breathtaking in their emotional intensity and they are devastatingly effective. Stewart’s guitar never overwhelms, allowing DioGaurdi’s voice to lead you through the whole album.
Article comments
1 - zingzing
unfortunately, the story's better than the music... which is pretty much MOR slop with mild attempts at some sort of interesting production that is undermined by the fact that it is usually so predictable and lazy. the songwriter's hack origins are also somewhat evident. enough, it seems, to make me cringe... or maybe that was just the fact that my coffee went cold. did she do that, too? wretched...
anyway, don't think you're alone with the hallmark channel, we've got it here as well. we here in the usa invented crap television and if you think we'll let some european country have worse tv than us, you've got another thing coming. like more crap tv, i guess.
2 - Marissa
Rumors had, and still does have, a deep sincerity about it. Not once listening to that classic, have I ever felt like something on it was just a song. Fleetwood Mac wrote a lot of -if not all of- those songs on a personal level. Emotions and personal experiences were infused into them. On a superficial level, Platinum Weird have managed to sound similar, and it sounds OK but I wouldn't go so far as to say they've written another Rumors. In some cases this new set of songs are irritating to listen to all the way through and seem to drag on. Maybe their next attempt will turn out better, but for now, in no way do they come close to Fleetwood Mac.
I have to give them credit for the atmosphere and backstory, etc, that they made to go with it.