ROCKAPELLA
Rockapella 2 (J-Bird Records)
Reviewed by Bill Holmes

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The parallels between Rockapella and the stellar harmony groups of the past decade are staggering, so why aren't these guys huge? Maybe because they're older (read: not jailbait) and don't spend hours learning to dance aerobically in a flying wedge formation. But give fans of 'N Sync, the Backstreet Boys, C Note and other boy bands a blind taste test, and they might just wow everyone. Hey wait a minute…isn't that the definition of radio airplay?

With background varying from opera companies to, yes, Disneyland (albeit Tokyo), their harmony structures are acrobatic and full. They tackle everything from blue eyed soul classics ("Tempted") to contemporary radio pop like "Is It In You?" and especially "Where Would We Be?" with equal success. Listen and you can hear a blend of Smokey Robinson, Philly soul, and Brooklyn street-corner doo-wop all rolled up into one. Scott Leonard writes and arranges most of the material, but Jeff Thatcher's vocal percussion is a key element to their unique sound.

Granted, harmonic acapella is not for everyone, but these guys are too good to have a five year stint on "Where In The World Is Carmen Santiago?" and several Folger's coffee commercials as their legacy. (But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the two commercial outtakes tacked onto the end of the CD!)

© 2000 - Bill Holmes