While GO RADIO have already released material to generally positive reviews, ‘Lucky Street’ comes as their first full-length release. Jason Lancaster, of ex-Mayday Parade fame, is pretty practised at poignant pop rock melodies and catchy tracks and the album is no disappointment on that front.
From the opener of the eponymous track, there’s an epic feel. ‘Lucky Street’ gets off to a strong start and highlights Lancaster’s range of vocal stylings. The songs seem to be split into two camps, interspersed between each other. On one side there’s vivid pop-punk with snappy vocals, and on the other are delicate piano-led tracks showing off Lancaster’s lyrical abilities. In the former, ‘Fight, Fight (Reach For The Sky)’ best sums up the rollicking, catchy set of songs. Its brass and swinging rhythms makes it one of the standout tracks of the album.
In the latter camp is the excellent ‘Why I’m Home’; poignant and stripped down, it showcases Go Radio‘s main attraction: Lancaster’s voice. The vocals vary from piercing sincerity to a warmer sound, and nothing demonstrates this transition like the pop-fuelled rock of ‘Redemption In The Verse‘, while softer track ‘House of Hallways’ is the perfect lesson in catchy, yet gentle pop-rock. Soulful vocals make it all the more irresistible, and it certainly comes as one of the highlights of the album. However, the variation sometimes means it can feel a little disjointed. The flow isn’t always coherent, and this holds the release back somewhat, especially with a couple of weaker tracks that don’t hold up as well. However, when Go Radio are good, they’re very good, and album closer ‘The Truth Is’ ends the release on a high note, basking fully in its pop-punk sensibilities.
JOSIE MARTIN