Artist: New Day Dawn
Title: The Company We Keep
Genre: Rock
Label: Botti Parts Records
Website: http://www.newdaydawnband.com
CD Baby Link: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/newdaydawn/from/muzikman
Source Link http://www.muzikreviews.com/reviews.php?ID=734

New Day Dawn is rock-pop outfit fronted by singer/songwriter/musician Dawn Botti. The lineup includes Botti (vocals, guitar, and keyboards), Gary Szczecino (drums), Patrick J. Angeloni (guitar) and Rob Choe (bass).

The Company We Keep is an independent release on the band's own Botti Parts Records. For a debut this is a strong showing. Ms. Botti is a solid leader by providing multi instrumentation and writing most of the songs.

The albums kicks into high gear immediately with "Misunderstood", a hook filled track that has hit single written all over it. Botti's voice is very infectious yet powerful enough to hold the line on their rockin' tracks.

Similarly "Follow" features power chords and clear and understandable vocals. The prevailing factor is that the impact of every track ends up having more juice because of the pinpoint singing style of the band's leader. Nothing is wasted here either; every instrument is in place to push Dawn's voice out front with conviction. There are nine main tracks then a bonus track reworking of "Misunderstood" from 1991. Dawn befriended famed remixer Alan Freidman and he took the song and created the bonus track you now hear on this CD. It has you comparing and contrasting because it is the same song yet it is more of poppy dance electronic version which is miles away from what the group sounds like today so you need to take it for what it is, a standalone track and nothing else.

"Over You" is a polished rock ballad that you would hear on any rock radio station in the 80's, a stand up cut that shows a different side of the band and it highlights their capabilities to switch from all out rockers to more softer sentimental subjects without losing their overall rock stamp.

Following that change of gears they continue in that vein except with a little more alternative/funky slant on "We Are". This showed me again how diverse they can be."Paralyzed" is great song that offers some grungy dirty guitar licks when it starts off then around the middle of the song switches over to some nice acoustic picking then gradually builds back up to a wall of guitars, bass and drums with Botti singing right along to keep you in the story every step of the way.

This is a very good recording straight on through and there is not one track that would not be a viable option for a DJ in a brick and mortar radio station or on Internet music channels.

4 /5 Stars

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

August 29, 2009

Copyright MuzikReviews.com

For Questions or Comments On This Review Send An Email To info@muzikreviews.com

Tracks:
01. Misunderstood
02. Nowhere Fast
03. Follow
04. Daddy's Song
05. See Me Fall
06. Prelude To Crazy
07. Over You
08. We Are
09. Paralyzed
10.Misunderstood ('91 Time Machine Remix)