Addicted
Lies Love And Laughter

The youngest English band in Italy, claims the press kit.

Press hyperbole, but it can make sense: there's very little of Italian in the debut album by Addicted (who have been touring around Italy for a few years, even performing at the 2004 Heineken Jammin Festival): much more of classic rock from across the Channel. Lyrics strictly in English, a deep voice that occasionally (but just occasionally) reminds of something from Nickelback, prominent guitars and a rather classic rhythmic accompaniment without particular peaks.

And the songs? Decent. There’s potential, noticeable here and there, but it seems that the guys don’t want to go beyond, seeking a sound that is more emulation than invention. There's nothing wrong with that, in itself; in fact, many of today’s bands play pieces that nod strongly to the past more than well. And surely to the casual listener, Lies Love And Laughter will sound good: well-produced, energetic, the result of a band that certainly has a good live approach (in fact, it's likely that the album closely reflects their live performances, being the first album of a band formed 10 years ago and which climbed all the steps to publication under La Fuente Record).

However, it must be said that it is and remains a bit too innocuous: almost no novelty, no thrill, no emotional peak, just a collection of decent pieces above average. And here one must consider the approach: if you want to be a solid, powerful, and well-tuned rock band writing powerful, energetic songs capable of "sounding good," the goal is achieved.
For the writer, however, it's the spark of originality that needs to be sought and there are only a few (the slow Out Of Time isn't bad, as well as the expansive and best on the album, Tales of Lonesome Soul). Still a bit far from truly shining, in short.

A good start to their career, though, and then we'll see: provided they don't just want to be the youngest English band in Italy. One must strive to be the most exciting young band in Italy: it's the emotion, not just being derivative, that makes things truly interesting.