Press Reviews
POWERPLAY MAGAZINE Feb. 2008
"Again" was reviewed in current Issue 95 . Steve Swift gave it 9 out of 9 powerpoints.
Silk washed in comfort, then rolled in feathers. Actually this is smoother than that. This sextet look like rockers, particularly guitarist/chief writer BF Acquaviva who resembles a death metaller, but they are avowedly AOR, their scant notes stating "it's great that their are still people who enjoy AOR", But this is not really AOR - it's SOR; Soul Orientated Rock. The way my mind works, it's a beautiful thing.
Did I mention that this is smooth? It simply glides, with that West Coast glister I enjoy so much. Their is a definate Bolton-esque feel to the songs, but Big Krush push it even further, with Chic-like funky riffs and rich vocals.
The sound would be nothing without the bold addition of Tim Mishalanie's electric piano, opening up the music and breathing new life into it, and the use of double vocalists (the two percussionists, Lopez and Crimmins, lend their throats) adds to the 80's occasionally Issac Hayes vibe (see "Pretty Soon" for the proof); there's even an aroma of congas!
This really is cool, brilliantly done, gently funky stuff. "Its not Over" has a wonderful piano solo with a loose scratchy riff, the solo on "Pretty Soon" sounds uncannily like a xylophone, Supertramp inhibit "Open Book" and "So Easy" chatters along on parping keys and guitars.
Only "Save Your World" fails to please. This album is that good. Of course, this is clearly not rock, it's a rock and soul mix - it won't make you jump around, it'll make you lay back and enjoy the music.
"Again" ....that's what you'll say when you've heard this.
POWER PLAY MAGAZINE REVIEW
Rob Evens
POWER PLAY MAGAZINE REVIEW There's nothing like a good bit of Westcoast AOR to help you relax and unwind after a hard day. Our next band fit that bill perfectly. They're called BIG KRUSH, they hail from America
The band is built around various session players and it's the brainchild of guitarist Bob Acquaviva. What Bob has done is assemble a stellar cast of musicans who've recorded and album. A blend of bands such as Steely Dan, Air Supply, Neilson/Pearson and Bugatti & Musker is whats on offer here. Lush vocal harmonies give way to some excellent musicianship that is prevalent throughout this album. How can this band go wrong? The Answer is , they can't ! One of the best Westcoast albums you'll hear this year. email at acqrok@adelphia.net Rob Evens Power Play Magazine UK
GLORY-DAZE www.glory-daze.com
George Thatcher Editor
BIG KRUSH - Bob F Acquaviva - guitars, vocals; Vince Cavo-vocals; Jerry Crimmins - vocals; Jose M. Lopez - vocals; Tim Mish - keyboards; Joe Restifo - bass, vocals; Lenny Milano - drums, percussion. Background: Here's a band from upstate New York that might tickle the fancy of may readers here. They are the seven-piece outfit Big Krush. These guys operate out off the East Coast but their music is influenced from the other side of the continent. L.A. styled west coast music is their game, with a nod to the likes of Toto, Chicago and Player. Big Krush is the mastermind of Bob Acquaviva, the band being in existance now for five years. Bob is also a producer and eng: by day at his acclaimed Acqrok Studios in Utica, NY. Trainspotters may know that Bob was also the Track Engineer on Boston's most recent release 'Corporate America'. The Songs: The music of Big Krush has a very 'live' and spontaneous feel to it, and they groove in much the way a club house band would. It also means that their live instincts come to the fore in the delivery of these songs . The band will do some local touring to coincide with the release. In the meantime, fans of West Coast (or East Coast for that matter!) should hop on over to the Big Krush website, and investigate for yourself. Review By: George Thatcher
AOR FANZINE Unknown
BIG KRUSH: Out of nowhere comes BIG KRUSH, an American band with a very strong calm AOR/Westcoast release like a mix between PABLO CRUISE/LITTLE RIVER BAND (the close-harmonyvocals), early 80s SANTANA, TOTO (the guitar work and song structures) and KING OF HEARTS (the light sound). Actually this CD is the most pure Westcoast release I have heard in ages. It is similar in style to the AOR project of Frederic Slama, ALLIANCE 1982 so I think you now know what to expect, namely a song based album with very melodic clean lead vocals in the TOTO/FRANKE AND THE KNOCKOUTS style and songs a la DAVID ROBERTS, JAY GRUSKA and PLAYER, so the insiders then will understand we have something really interesting here. If anyone had told me this was a Japanese re-issue from a 1982 record I would have instantly believed it. In fact, after sitting with this album for a week I finally found out the absolute best comparison, which is not DAVID ROBERTS, but good ole JOHN O'BANION, so if anyone out there likes his 1980s records, well then you're gonna love this BIG KRUSH for sure. This New York based band is without a doubt a must-have for the Westcoast/AOR fans!----------------
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