PRAYER
Wrong Address
Escape Records 2005
www.prayerband.net

Read the Tapani Tikkanen interview

What’s the 4-1-1?
Hailing from Oulu, Northern Finland, Prayer releases their debut album that was penned entirely by frontman Tapani Tikkanen.

Genre
Hard rock / melodic rock / AOR / pop rock

The Good
“Secrets of the Night” explores what happens between the sheets when the lights go out. Prayer doesn’t come right out and say it, but they use plenty of eighties metal metaphor to get their point across. The music is dominated by sharp keyboard tones and commanding guitars. The chorus of “I’ve Been Loving you is quite catchy, but has a minor flaw (see below). “Running Wild in the Night” is really defined by Tapani Tikkanen’s melodic vocals, but the emotion the soft keys elicit cannot be ignored.

“End of Time” expresses eternal love and devotion with a classic melodic rock backbeat. On “Main Attraction,” Prayer delves into the dark world of the fallen supermodel. The theme seems a bit cliché at times, but the band still makes it enjoyable. Oddly enough, the group’s best work comes at the albums conclusion. “Caught in the Crossfire” has plenty of memorable riffs, killer guitar runs, and empowering vocals.

The Bad
Sometime their lyrics can get a little cheesy. Case in point “I’ve Been Loving You;” I’ve been loving you / I’ve been loving you too long / one and one is two / I know what you do is so wrong. “I Want You” has some lyrical issues too; That tight little sweater and your cowboy boots / can drive any man insane / you’re rockin and rollin / and you live the way you choose. Tikkanen tends to over-enunciate the English lyrics at times, but that could just be my American-bred lack of tolerance and compassion talking.

The Verdict
Despite its minor bad points, Wrong Address is an enjoyable AOR/melodic rock album. It has lots of layered choruses, over-the-top guitar solos, and charging chord progressions. If it’s not an anthem, it’s a song of love and heartbreak. A little more cash on the production side of things would certainly push Prayer to the next level.

Did You Know?
Tapani Tikkanen began his music career in the eighties as a member of IC-Rock and Tanna.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne