Mike Tramp
Maybe Tomorrow
Target Records
2017
Mike Tramp may as well have made a name as the singer of White Lion, along with guitarist extraordinaire Vito Bratta, but he also had a bit of a career before with Mabel and Studs and with Freak Of Nature and since the late 90s as a solo artist, so prolific that in fact in the past 20 years has released about ten solo albums that explore a lighter, but still rocking direction.
“Maybe Tomorrow” is the tenth of those albums and those who are familiar with the latest album by Mike will feel right at home. His voice has held up remarkably well at least at this volume and its warm timbre is really immediately likable.
“Coming Home” is a bitter sweet urban hymn to all those who life has cast astray (for whatever reason) and a song one could immediately identify with.
“It’s Not How We Do It” nullifies what Bon Jovi has been trying to do in the past 10 years or so, effortlessly combining start stop dynamics and melody in a way that’s just irresistible.
“Spring” reminded me a bit of the feelgood factor that bands like Dan Reed’s Network would put forth and feels uplifting and beautiful as you’d expect.
“Would I Lie to You” is a ballad that eases itself in the way your expect to bloom in an almost symphonic way a bit later on.
“Rust and Dust” (quite the wordplay, ha!) is an up-tempo number that again easily tops whatever Bon Jovi has tried to do, having both the urban rock quality as well as a melody that’s hard not to like and a chorus that builds and builds through a “huge” bridge that actually segues into it.
“Leaving One Day” is an electric blue track, with a lot of reverberation, causing an atmosphere that’s quite riveting initially while the song sounds like a 90s grunge rocker only to become a lot more contemporary a bit later on.
“Time and Place” is a simple piano ballad that showcases Mike’s voice nicely, through the spartan orchestration.
“What More Can I Say” is a simple enough song that’s quite direct, a rocker lacking the high voltage and feels poignant…
“Why Even Worry at All” subscribes to the “Don’t Worry Be Happy” train of thought again, being a bit Jovi-ish, but in such a much better way.
Last but not least, the title track “Maybe Tomorrow” is a minor masterpiece, an epic acoustic number, slightly somber, again bitter sweet; this time tipping a bit towards bitter, but allowing a glimmer of hope and a ray of line to come in... despite its relative longer duration (to fit in a nice lead) it doesn’t tire and feels like an ideal track to bring closure to the album.
Awesome as almost always, Tramp stands tall. In a world of craziness, this Americanized Dane is a bit of a beacon of good taste and a paragon of virtue.
“Maybe Tomorrow” is the tenth of those albums and those who are familiar with the latest album by Mike will feel right at home. His voice has held up remarkably well at least at this volume and its warm timbre is really immediately likable.
“Coming Home” is a bitter sweet urban hymn to all those who life has cast astray (for whatever reason) and a song one could immediately identify with.
“It’s Not How We Do It” nullifies what Bon Jovi has been trying to do in the past 10 years or so, effortlessly combining start stop dynamics and melody in a way that’s just irresistible.
“Spring” reminded me a bit of the feelgood factor that bands like Dan Reed’s Network would put forth and feels uplifting and beautiful as you’d expect.
“Would I Lie to You” is a ballad that eases itself in the way your expect to bloom in an almost symphonic way a bit later on.
“Rust and Dust” (quite the wordplay, ha!) is an up-tempo number that again easily tops whatever Bon Jovi has tried to do, having both the urban rock quality as well as a melody that’s hard not to like and a chorus that builds and builds through a “huge” bridge that actually segues into it.
“Leaving One Day” is an electric blue track, with a lot of reverberation, causing an atmosphere that’s quite riveting initially while the song sounds like a 90s grunge rocker only to become a lot more contemporary a bit later on.
“Time and Place” is a simple piano ballad that showcases Mike’s voice nicely, through the spartan orchestration.
“What More Can I Say” is a simple enough song that’s quite direct, a rocker lacking the high voltage and feels poignant…
“Why Even Worry at All” subscribes to the “Don’t Worry Be Happy” train of thought again, being a bit Jovi-ish, but in such a much better way.
Last but not least, the title track “Maybe Tomorrow” is a minor masterpiece, an epic acoustic number, slightly somber, again bitter sweet; this time tipping a bit towards bitter, but allowing a glimmer of hope and a ray of line to come in... despite its relative longer duration (to fit in a nice lead) it doesn’t tire and feels like an ideal track to bring closure to the album.
Awesome as almost always, Tramp stands tall. In a world of craziness, this Americanized Dane is a bit of a beacon of good taste and a paragon of virtue.