Album Notes

For a twenty-two-year-old Pittsburgh native, Anthony Rankin has a surprising mastery of the sound epitomized by arena mega stars of yesteryear. It is a sound and style that seems custom-made for his hook-filled arrangements, amazing musicianship and sexy, soaring voice.

With his third release “The Distance,” he clearly has found that voice, and he wraps it passionately around ten tracks that speak of love, separation and betrayal.

The leadoff track, “Under the Radar” is a surefire candidate for breakout single. The Bon Jovi-esque “Smoke and Mirrors” describes a bitter man’s siren seduction.

The groovy tempo and delightfully retro background vocals of “Whatever It Takes” showcase Rankin’s gift for arrangement. The dramatic and haunting “Left to Say” with its catchy machine gun-style chorus may park itself in your head long after the song ends.

The sleeper favorite here could be the soulful ballad “Abandon,” an anthem for the lovelorn, and possibly that final slow song at the end of the high school dance. Warning: this track may make you weep, especially with its lamenting guitar solo ending.

Rankin displays some diversity as he explores his R&B side with “Since You’ve Been Gone” and the slightly techno-pop “Virtual Reality.” “Broken Wings” has an upbeat sound and the final track, “Losing the Battle” while another sad tale of loss, seems to carry a message of a man who is ready to move on. As he sings so encouragingly in the earlier track, “Moving Forward”: "What’s inside tomorrow that isn’t there today/Believe in me and we’ll find the better way."

Anthony Rankin may be that man; a young product destined for musical success, with the talent and ambition to go the distance.