Timing is everything.
As cliché as that sounds, it’s true. Looking back on the 80s it’s harder to describe the rise and eventual fall of hair bands and the “copycat” syndrome. Almost any successful band had 2 things happen; the “brand” made a ton of money and the industry went into overdrive to do it again with another band. You like Night Ranger, we’re going to give you more Night Ranger, so to speak. But as a famous author once wrote –
Nothing gold can stay.
It was 1987 and in many ways, 80s music was at its climax and bands were being pushed out as quickly as they could be found. However, a band that came out now was destined to frustration as the party was coming to an end and grunge, combat boots and a certain melodic moan would be the new norm of vocals and lyrics would fall into an abyss of “what the fuck did he just say?”
However, we were not there yet and the 80s didn’t end quietly as talented bands were still there, hoping their music would go the distance, so to speak.
In comes Tyketto. Their wiki page lands them somewhere between Whitesnake and Bon Jovi and while I hear more Extreme to be honest, the 80s sound was a sound all on its own and you can likely hear any band you like in there. Many bands never saw the light of day as the industry changed around them and either went grunge or simply moved onto the next phase of their lives.
Tyketto stuck around in various forms and despite a farewell tour in 2007, a rebirth in 2008 and even released “Dig” in 2012, Tyketto was not about to let go, frustrations I’m sure notwithstanding.
You can read up on the bands history through wiki if you’d like as quite a bit of talent has come in and out of this group through the years and the story in itself is pretty amazing in how they’ve kept moving forward, together whenever possible. In listening to more and more Tyketto, great music has always been their constant and Reach is certainly no different. This is what it was like when new music came out in the 80s and you couldn’t wait to see the band on Tour and yea, you were going front row if you could sit in line all night to get tickets.
The title cut “Reach” starts off very…80s in pretty much the best of ways. You remember the times it was all new and in some ways, while the sound is familiar there is a sense of maturity in the music and experience in the lyrics. It’s like a brand new déjà vu.
Other songs that pull me into the music include “circle the wagons” and once again the older crowd is likely to get a tad emotional as we remanence to something new in music like this.
“Well I’ve tried to be righteous, and I’ve looked for the same. Carry seeds in my pocket and keep hoping for rain” – Circle The Wagons.
“Letting Go” is another release I’ve hit rewind on more than once and the one that’s been in my car mp3 player as I over-analyze the music and lyrics would be “Scream”.
“If I could scream a little louder I would. Be any prouder than I would. Aim any higher, see any wider, scream any louder, than I would”.
Scream to me is the “hits home” song as it first talks about the first half of your life and the accomplishments you made and the vast array of emotions we all go through in our lives. “Look ahead, on the rest of my own life, time will tell if it’s a good road, a hard road and will you be there. And in the end, it matters how I tried, it matters that I live, I live dignified”.
Know what I mean? If there was ever a song to hang your hat of life on, this would be the one. “Scream” has found a permanent place in my heart to be sure and there’s a great chance you will find your own “hat to hang” somewhere in this release.
There’s certainly something for everyone in this release as they left nothing out. You want the harder rock, you got it. You want melodic rock, man alive, you got it. You want a release worth having that you’ll be pulling up over the years to listen to again and again?
You got it. Whether you’re reliving the 80s or finding your own way today, Reach is something special from a talented group of people who obviously a perfectionists of sorts, but artists to the heart. Great job, guys. After all these years you’re still winning new fans and that is what this world of music is all about.
Band Members:
Danny Vaughn – lead vocals
Michael Clayton Arbeeny – drums, percussion, vocals
Ged Rylands – keyboards, vocals
Chris Green – guitar, vocals
Chris Childs – bass guitar, vocals
Tyketto – Facebook
Tyketto – Wiki
