Anneke Van Giersbergen
Drive

‘Drive‘ is her fourth solo studio album, and from opener ‘We Live On’ through to the final notes of ‘The Best Is Yet To Come‘ it proves to be her most accessible work to date. Balancing from ballads to alternative rock sounding tunes with a slight pop sense glittering the overall sound.

Both first two tracks opening the album are fine examples of what used to be called power-pop. Rock ballad ‘She’ keeps up the quality, and then unfortunately things take a dive with the title song “Drive” which sounds to radio-friendly even for a wide mind-opened rocker. “My Mother Said”, It’s a beautifully sung piano based ballad, which might be one of the highlights of the album.

Next follows “Forgive Me” that by all means brought me in mind The Gathering in the way they sound without Anneke, and so does track 7 “You will never Change”.

“Mental Jungle” blends eastern sounds with the help of additional vocalist Hayko Cepkin from Turkey singing in an arabic dialect. Traditional metal instrumentation and this clashing of cultures makes this track an interesting listen and took me back to The Gathering’s older days/sound.

Songs “Shooting..” and closer track “The Best Is…” simply follow the pop groovy character the album has in general and nothing so special in particular can be said.

The quality of the songwriting is luckily superb as does the performance of the musicians involved. The quality of playing, from her regular touring band is top notch, and packed with feeling and energy. Anneke is blessed with a truly lovely voice and pure recognisable tone and warmth, qualities that enhance all songs to the most and save the weaker tracks from mediocraty.

Overall, the songs on ‘Drive’ are enjoyably catchy, with much to enjoy. There is a need for albums that just make the listener feel happy or optimistic,and ‘Drive’ is a record that contains such songs. It ain’t perfect, but it’s enjoyable, so enjoy listening and smiling simultaneously…Cause “Drive” it’s made to make you feel such a way!