Here we have an archive release from the newer Eonian Records out of the heartland of America… That would be Indiana to be exact. The band is CHARLEMAGNE, who were an LA-based four-piece from the Sunset Strip days. The bands’ sound is not your average Strip sound though as they seemed to have a bit more of an AOR approach and the two styles make for an enjoyable affair for sure. Most of the collective members attended the Musicians Institute for their respective instruments and it shows as the band certainly knew how to craft a song and play their parts.

The record opens with a double shot of AOR-inspired hair rock as “Secret Romeo” (sounding a bit like BON JOVI at times) and “I Don’t Wanna Lie” (great chorus) set the tone for the record. Continuing on with tracks like “She’s Only Young”, which has a slightly sleazy and heavier approach and “So Far Away” with a building and mildly epic feel show this band had more to offer than your average Strip band. It makes me wonder how these guys never got a deal when I clearly know there were bands less polished and just not as talented as the songs here seem to show.

The quality continues to flow on tracks like “Is It Ever Easy”, with its very AOR-friendly arrangement and the super-smooth “I’ve Got You”. It makes me think maybe the reason they never got signed was because record companies couldn’t pigeonhole them. Their approach and look was clearly hair rock but the sounds they produced ran the gamut from quality, smooth AOR to the very Strip sound they were born from.

I really can’t find a bad tune among the eleven tracks, except maybe “I’m Not That Easy” which is probably the weakest track of the album and “Last Chance” which is nothing more than a one minute instrumental jam. It makes me wonder if these guys had a little luck, a solid producer and decent label behind them would we have been seeing them on MTV and the like back in the day? Good job by Eonian Records for unearthing this gem.

If hair rock with AOR overtones is up your alley you could do a lot worse than checking out CHARLEMAGNE.