Anthony Green - Avalon - Music & Performance - CD

Anthony Green is far from what you would call a conventional lead singer for a rock band. As the front man of several groups, including Saosin and Circa Survive, Green has become just as well known for the company he keeps as the high-pitched vocal range he displays. It's impressive to hear the notes this man can reach on his solo album Avalon, a collection of songs Green has often performed live in concert but never released on an album before now. Don't mistake high-pitched for soft rockin', as "Dear Child (I've Been Dying To Reach You)" is an intense pop rock ballad which quickly draws comparison to the likes of Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance.

Green's songs are often intensely personal, such as the Avalon track "Babygirl," where Green professes his almost suffocating love with the line "When you're talking to me I can't breathe." Green is clearly a romantic at heart though, so for all his torment he can still bust out a soft and thoughtful tune like "She Loves Me So" that's as cool as a summer night's breeze. Avalon is more than just Green's crooning though as the album treats his long time followers to unreleased demos and a bonus EP called The High & Driving as extra tracks after the main portion of the album.

There are plenty of pleasant surprises in this extra material, such as a more hard rocking version of "Babygirl," a second take of the incredibly long titled "The First Day of Work At The Microscope Store," and entirely original songs like "Plays Ugly For Daddy" which once again find Green testing his emotional and vocal range over a quietly strummed groove. Long-term fans of Green will probably appreciate the EP and the demo tracks the most, not to mention the enhanced bonus video content found on the disc. First time listeners of Green will appreciate his chameleonic ability to adapt to any kind of track and make it his own with his unique vocal tone. Avalon is one of those rare albums that truly does offer something for everyone.