Brash Music has announced the July 10 national release of
Take A Chance On Something Beautiful from South Carolina-based band Half Past Forever. The group’s members Chris Sligh, Adam Fisher and Cole Edmonson were joined by several other musicians for the project. Sligh produced the release and wrote or co-wrote all seventeen songs.
Brash Music president Steve Jones said, “One of the members of the band has enjoyed some national television visibility this year, making this one of our most highly-anticipated summer releases. This band has some great things in store for them in the very near future.”
Chris Sligh ... Isn't That the Guy From "American Idol?"
Yep, you got it! Actually,
Take A Chance On Something Beautiful was recorded prior to Chris taking the
Idol stage and was released independently in March 2007. Chris took a break from the band to compete and has officially rejoined the band, although he will be tied up touring with the other
Idol finalists from July 6 - September 22.
The publicity from AI has already given the release tons of free press, and the ranking on Amazon.com jumping from the 13,000s to 25 shows that sales are off the chain!
The Review
17 songs isn't what you usually see on a debut release, but since Chris and the guys recorded and produced the release in Chris' home studio, they weren't having to pay for studio time, thus making it financially possible to record 17 songs. (They actually started out with 45 songs!)
I wasn't honestly sure what to expect on this album because on the show, Chris had to sing what was put in front of him. We didn't get to see the "real" Chris as far as musical style and taste. I was pleasantly surprised because, as it turns out, Chris has some pretty varied taste in music! The album has slow songs, edgier, indie rock songs, and some all out rockers. "Waiting" lifts you up, no matter how dark your day may seem. "Hero" is every man's song (and every woman's too). "Naïve" showcases Chris' raw passion in a beautiful way. "Cry Tonight," with the intro string-work takes the cake and "Somewhere," with it's 80's rock sound, is my absolute favorite on the release.
The Bottom Line
Chris Sligh and the rest of the Half Past crew have outdone themselves on their debut release. Take A Chance On Something Beautiful is a CD that truly does offer something for everyone. You like power ballads? They've got you covered! You adore edgy indie-rock? Dive in! Do you have a love for rock that blends strings so adeptly that you aren't sure if you should be wearing a tux or your best rocker jeans? Half Past Forever has music for you! 17 songs cover pretty much every color of the musical rainbow and the CD itself is the pot of gold, so it's not just at the end! The gold runs all the way through!
The Background
- Style: Modern rock
- 17 songs
- National release date: July 10, 2007
Track List
- Forever
- Waiting
- Hero
- Know
- In A Moment
- Naive
- Transcendental
- Need
- Rise
- Closer
- Convenience
- Cry Tonight
- Somewhere
- Tunnel Vision
- Gone
- Beautiful (reprise)
- How Long
