Music Review: West Gate "Daylight"

West Gate
Daylight
2009/Unsigned
westgateband.com

RATING: Listenable

Produced by Grammy Award winner John Seymour, Daylight, the newest release from the New Jersey-based rock quintet West Gate, is a boisterous effort that melds melodic vocals, pulsating bass lines, heavy drumming, eager guitars, and perceptive lyrics. With songs like “Ordinary,” “Want it All,” and “Alive Again,” West Gate is ready for the radio-friendly rock mainstream. The only real disappointment is the inclusion of West Gate’s cover of Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose.” It’s not because their version is so far off from the original – in fact, it’s quite similar. The issue lies in the fact that West Gate is unconvincing at recreating the sensual machismo found in the original – vocally and musically, the masculinity seems forced. But with that track aside, and some tweaks here and there, Daylight is one infectious rock record. -Annamarya Scaccia