David Vaccaro talks with Mark Maverick of IradioLA.com
AIRPLAY!!!
Disclaimer and You Don't Care have been getting airtime at the following stations. Let's keep it rockin, please call and request em! Many thanks.
Dave V.
REQUEST V-PROJECT AT THE FOLLOWING STATIONS:
CFOR, Quibec City, QC
KBBN
KCDV, Cordova, AK
KGLI, Sioux City, IA
KGY, Seattle, WA
KJNY, Eureka, CA
KLBQ, El Dorado, AR
KMGZ, Lawton, OK
KOZE, Lewiston, ID
KQIB, Brokon Bow, OK
KSEK, Joplin, MO
KSPI, Oklahoma City, OK
KTBC, Klamath Falls, OR
KTKN, Ketchikan, AK
KYTI, Sheridan, WY
KWYO
KWYR, Winner, SD
KXAZ, Page, AZ
WHBZ, Sheboygan, WI
WIFX, Harold, KY
WIMK, Iron Mountain, MI
WMOM, Muskegon, MI
WOCO, Oconto, WI
WOTT, Watertown, NY
WQAK
WQXQ, Central City, KY
WXEF, Effington, IL
WYVY
WZZL
Review: PowerPlay Magazine August 2008
“New Machine” is the brainchild of semi-legendary music man, David Vaccaro. Since I can remember, Vaccaro has been involved in the Boston music scene rubbing shoulders with the likes of Aerosmith, The Cars, J Geils Band and others. “New Machine” sounds fresh, contemporary and classic at the same time. Vaccaro’s slide playing, especially on “Exit Sign” and Steve Miller’s “The Stake” are awesome. His vocal abilities are exemplary as well. Adding to this spectacular project is former Grand Prix, and Michael Schenker front man, Robin McAuley who is and has always been a class act. He sings four of the tracks on “New Machine” and does not disappoint. The most adventurous composition has to be “Desert Run” in that it has Vaccaro multi-layering guitar upon guitar while stretching the boundaries of the guitar instrumental into Satriani territory.
”Tangled In Your Web” is a bit substandard when compared to the other tracks, but still holds up quite well. “On Yer Way” is a slide-driven swagger that almost crosses into contemporary Southern rock terrain. As a whole, this album would be a welcome edition for those who collect classic rock and hair metal with splashes of southern rock a la Tangier, Tora Tora, and Cinderella. - Tony Pijar
REVIEW - We Heart Music.com
What the hell ever happened to good ol' rock-and-roll? There are so many bands around the world who classify their sound as alt-rock, indie-rock, math-rock, post-rock, muffin-rock, hollow-fake-stone-where-you-hide-the-extra-key-rock, x-rock-where-x-equals-any-prefix-of-your-choice...but where's the plain ol' no-prefixes-needed rock? Apparently, it's been hiding in Boston, where long-time guitarist and songwriter David Vaccaro has been hoarding it in his basement since the '70s. Fortunately, he's blown the dust and cobwebs off of it, polished it up, and released a hefty chunk of that old-time rock-and-roll under the name V-project (MySpace).
Boston native Vaccaro has quite the rock pedigree. He's been playing in various bands since the late '70s, such as Oz, Capital Gains, and Siberia, but only began releasing music as V-Project in 2001 with the well-received acoustic album Lost Demos. For V-project's second effort, New Machine, Vaccaro has plugged in and cranked the amp up to 11. Along with collaborator Robin McAuley, the former vocalist of MSG, Vaccaro has produced ten tracks of pure, uncut rock that clearly hearkens back to the glory days of the '70s and '80s without sounding particularly dated. Rock is eternal, no matter how many prefixes other people slap on to it, and because of that, V-Machine has the same timeless feel as KISS, The Scorpions, Mötley Crüe, George Thoroughgood and the Destroyers, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
New Machine is pure oldskool rock from beginning to end. Vaccaro defines his sound as "Jimmy Page meets Joe Walsh with a little Cheap Trick thrown in for good measure," and he is spot-on in his assessment. "Exit Sign" starts the album off on the right foot by opening with some classic riffs that immediately bring to mind the opening chords of Van Halen's debut album, and most of the tracks follow its lead, but Vaccaro occasionally shows a more adventurous side, such as on "Desert Run," a driving instrumental track that features chugging synths, an acoustic guitar solo with a pronounced southwestern flavor and fiery electric guitar work that reminds me a lot of Steve Vai. "You Don't Care" is another Latin-textured song that features stirring string arrangements and a thoroughly ass-kicking chorus, and "Back To My Baby" is a classic hard-rock ballad of love lost that would make Poison or Cinderella jealous. My favorite track, though, is "The Stake," a cover of one of my favorite Steve Miller Band songs which gives the song a bit of a more modern flavor while still remaining very close to the original.
And here's just an interesting little tidbit of information that might give you a second's pause: all of the drums on the album are programmed. That's right--there are no live drummers on this album: all of the beats were programmed by David Vaccaro himself. (In fact, all of the instruments on this album, save for the strings on "You Don't Care" and the sax on "Back To My Baby," are played or programmed by Vaccaro.) What's really cool about the drums, though, is that they do not in any way sound programmed. As a drum programmer myself, let me tell you: that is not an easy feat to achieve. Even with programs like BFD and Battery, both of which have extensive libraries of sampled acoustic drumkits, it's still a major achievement to design drum tracks that sound as though they were recorded by a guy in spandex shorts and a tiger-striped wifebeater rockin' out on the skins. Dave, if you're reading this, leave a comment telling me how the hell you did it!
At any rate, if you're looking for a *-rock album that explores the entire spectrum of musical possibilities, then New Machine is probably going to sound a little claustrophobic. But if you want an album that doesn't play any games, but simply ROCKS, then New Machine is it. I better see some lighters being held high out there in the audience for this one!
Review: Metronome Magazine, Boston, MA
The V-Project is the brainchild of producer/multi-instrumentalist Dave Vaccaro. He and singer Robin McAuley (McAuley Schenker Group and Survivor) collaborate on four songs while Vaccaro brings them to life with his guitar, bass, keyboard and drum programming talents.
Ripped from the chapters of 80's arena rock, V-Project has a great sound that features blazing guitars, whirring keyboards and McAuley's seasoned vocals. However the real surprise here is Vaccaro's lead vocals on the songs that McAauley was unavailable to sing on. The first Vaccaro lead vocal appears on the Steve Miller hit "The Stake". If I didn't know better, I'd swear Steve Miller showed up in the recording booth instead of Vaccaro. Dave's vocals are solid, and quite frankly sound better, and more original than McAuley's (and that's saying a lot). Just in case you thought Vaccaro got lucky vocally on "The Stake" make sure to check out "Disclaimer", the heat drenched "Desert Run", the Joe Walsh inspired "On Yer Way", and the anthemic "Back To My Baby". I think Vaccaro has hit pay dirt with the fittingly titled New Machine. Go ahead take a ride, you'll love it!
Review: Michael Debbage, Hardrockhaven.net
So, it has been seven long years since the release of David Vaccaro’s freshman effort Lost Demos that featured vocalist James Christian and Robin McAuley. With the exception of James Christian’s driven “Rattle Your Cage” it was a rather mellow affair that took you by surprise making the album one of 2001’s sleepers of the year. While his latest project still features Robin on four tracks, the surprise factor of the debut has gone. Nevertheless, New Machine has all the charm of its predecessor and focuses more intensely on the efforts and talents of David Vaccaro.
New Machine lives up to its namesake by tweaking the amplification upward without going overboard and possibly ostracizing his current fan base. Enter “Exit Sign” that opens with a Foghat like boogie riff complimented by a steady thump of the percussion and by the 15 second mark, you then have the familiar vocals of McAuley who also co-wrote the song. Utterly catchy and pumped up “Exit Sign” parallels “Rattle Your Cage” from the debut. There is more of this found on “You Don’t Care” with McAuley’s gnarly vocal edge oddly merging with Christopher Vuk’s exotic Middle Eastern violin work bestowing an almost semi progressive edge to the underbelly of the arrangement.
Though McAuley’s presence adds to the album, oddly he is not credited on the outside of the album which may suggest that Vaccaro wants to succeed or fail on his own merit. Two particular compositions would suggest the former as they glisten with originality and humor. First, there is the almost techno thump of the instrumental track “Desert Run” contrasted by Vaccaro’s stellar flamenco and electric guitar. Around in demo form since 2003 this track is all about David Vaccaro who is clearly not just a talented composer but also a very capable guitarist. As for the humor visit the tongue in cheek lyrics of the rather funky “Disclaimer” that warns you about overlooking the small print. Speaking of the small print, if you have not yet gazed at the credits you may have ignored that it is Vaccaro who steps up to the microphone for six of the album’s ten tracks and completes a very credible job.
For those of you searching for the charming acoustic powered compositions more in the vein of his debut will probably enjoy the McAuley featured “Somebody Like You”. Though Vaccaro adds a few amps to the material it is definitely acoustic driven. Similar results can be found courtesy of the amiable closer “Back To My Baby” that also features the saxophone work of Jeff Giacomelli. In fact, this particular song has commerciality written all over it without sounding like a sell out or compromise. It brings to mind the Steve Miller Band at its peak.
Speaking of Miller, Vaccaro also covers the Steve Miller Band hit “The Stake” that saturated the airwaves over 20 years ago. Staying true to the original it is a good representation of Vaccaro’s music that is rooted in classic rock with a slight undertone of the blues. Nevertheless, Vaccaro is willing to wander a little avoiding the color by numbers approach thus making the New Machine familiar yet fresh. More importantly, New Machine is much more consistent than its predecessor and symbolizes an artist that is more than capable of standing on his own two feet.
Review: Metalstorm.eu
V-Project's album New Machine came to me as quite a pleasant surprise. Hard rock released these days is usually overdone in one way or another, with bands emulating either drug-induced hippie antics or 80s hair metal overindulgence, often with tepid results. V-Project's back-to-the-basics, elegant, guitar-driven AOR seems refreshingly humble and real in comparison, even if the band's music isn't exactly something that would dethrone Cheap Trick, Quiet Riot, Tesla or Foghat in their respective heydays.
Although they are not mentioned in any promotional material associated with V-Project, Cheap Trick seems to me to be the penultimate influence on the music on New Machine. Solid, bluesy hard rock with poppy melodies dominates the album. The band is clearly talented but they don't shove it in our faces, opting to realize a well-crafted melody rather than indulging in masturbatory solos or over-the-top vocal performances. The songs therefore rarely scream for attention, instead creeping up on the listener and enveloping them slowly in their addictive basic momentum. No other song is a better example of this than "Time To Move On", a mid-paced blues number with a superb refrain that puts ZZ Top to shame. The band shines on other songs too - the heavy "Exit Sign", the instrumental "Desert Run" or the funky "Tangled In Your Web" are all highlights, with the other songs not trailing far behind.
If music is sometimes like drugs, V-Project is comparable to an established, well brewed and seasoned lager. It won't immediately get you drunk like hard liquor or make you jump around in epileptic fits like some other, more illegal substances. Instead, one can simply take a seat and savor the taste. Certainly, the night won't be as memorable, but fun nevertheless. Indeed, with New Machine, V-Project simply released the perfect album for that blues bar around the corner where you occasionally chill out with your friends. Solid and unassuming, yet deceptively addictive, this is a hard rock album worth hearing. If it were released in the late 70s, it would by now be completely forgotten, but for this day and age, it is an enjoyable retro album.
Review: Wildy's World
The V-Project is the brainchild of David Vaccaro, one of the denizens of the 1970s Boston scene that produced The Cars, J. Geils, Till Tuesday, Jon Butcher and Aerosmith, to name a few. New Machine finds Vaccaro mining familiar album-oriented-rock (AOR) depths with aplomb. Assisted by the ever dynamic Robin McAuley (McAuley-Schenker Group, Grand Prix, Survivor) on four tracks, Vaccaro has created a dynamic and authentic piece of late-70’s, early-80’s influenced guitar rock.
New Machine does not break any new ground (although essentially anytime Robin McAuley is involved in anything new ground is broken), but is a very listenable opus that dances around the edges of Southern Rock and 80’s Hair Metal at times. The highlights here happen to be the collaborations between McAuley and Vaccaro (Exit Sign, Somebody Like You, You Don’t Care and Tangled In Your Web). Also interesting is the Steve Miller cover The Stake.
Look, New Machine will not be everybody’s cup of tea. If you’re not into 70’s/80’s guitar rock then you’re probably not going to like this disc. If you are a fan of the era, then this is a must-have. If you’re new to the genre, you could do much worse than to have New Machine as your introduction to the sound.
PODCAST CITY!
Check a few of the podcasts out if you get a chance cause there are some really excellent songs out there from bands that will not get exposure anywhere else but on the net.
New Machine is being played at the following Podcast Stations;
http://www.live365.com/stations/allsortsman
http://www.hotindienews.com/
http://www.aidabet.com/
http://www.thepenguinrocks.com/
http://www.live365.com/stations/djeclectic
http://www.voodooradio.org/
http://www.luver.com/
http://www.ucradiopodshow.com/
http://weheartmusic.vox.com/
http://www.womenonair.com/
http://www.live365.com/stations/fuzoid
http://www.wbrs.org/
http://www.artistlaunch.com/
http://www.dailyvault.com/
http://www.hypezine.com/
http://www.24rock.net/
http://www.earcandyforthemind.0catch.com/
http://www.khztv.com/
http://offthebeat-n-track.com/
http://blog.robkast.nl/
http://www.radiocrystalblue.com/
http://www.new-sounds.com/
http://www.wdyn.net/
http://www.1340mag.com/
http://www.wgdr.org/
http://www.rockandrollreport.com/
http://www.radiofreemoskow.com/
http://www.live365.com/stations/splinkster
http://www.nextbighit.com/
http://www.wellroundedradio.net/
V-Project New Machine CD Now On Sale!!!
Hello and welcome to the new DMV Music website. As you can see we've overhauled the whole site and it's all to support and build a vibe for the New Machine CD.
The site has also been streamlined to get right down to it so you can see and hear what the New Machine CD is all about.
So what is the new CD like...well, let's just say the name of the CD says it all. New Machine is well...like a whole new machine. It's as if we finished doing the acoustic rock session of Lost Demos, and when we came back (after taking a break) to record new tracks, we picked up the electrics and plugged into the Marshalls...and Fenders...and Hi-Watts...
When you listen to some of the sample tracks on the Music & Lyrics page you'll see that we didn't lose any of the nice melodic feel of the Lost Demos CD. All the big chorus hooks and guitar riffs are still there but just powered up!
Robin McAuley is back and in fine form as usual for four very cool and different tracks for Robin. Check out track-7, You Don't Care, and you'll see what I mean.
And for those who really liked my Latin flavored Flamenco guitar work on Lost Demos, then you need to check out track-6, Desert Run. Just make sure you wear your helmet and strap yourself in, it's a long walk back in the hot sun if you fall out of the 4-wheeler.
Anybody had enough of cheesy bait and switch advertising? Then you definately want to listen to track-4, Disclaimer.
We'll I could go on, but I'd much rather have you listening to some New Machine tunes than listening to me blab. I'm really excited about the New Machine CD. I think it's a good CD and I hope you enjoy it for many years to come.
Dave V.
I Can't Believe It's Done!
It is a change from Lost Demos acoustic vibe but it's just what you would expect if we put down the acoustics and plugged in to the Marshalls.
Anyway, now I really do need to update this website. And I will. ASAP. I don't really know how to do web stuff but I'm determined to do it myself. I hope I can come up with something good!
Until then...
Time To Master! ...and clear the air.
While the CD is being pressed I'll be updating this website and trying to get V-Project set up on Myspace as well. Which brings up an issue that I should mention...please excuse me while I rant for a second.
When I released the Lost Demos CD under the name V-PROJECT back in 2001, there were almost no other music related bands or projects out there on the web called V-PROJECT. Same goes for DMVmusic.
If there was a "V-Project" it was usually a software company or something non-music related. Only in Japan was there (and still is) a music band called V-Project. From their appearance they look like a pop band.
Now when I go on the net, and Myspace as well, I find probably a dozen or so bands or music related projects calling themselves V-Project and or DMVmusic! Get real would ya.
I could not use TheV-Project or V-Project or even DMVmusic on my space because other bands or individuals (apparently with no imagination, or enough self-respect to come up with an original name) have taken these names.
Talk about confusing your fans. And in this day and age there's no excuse for copping sombody else's name or URL. I'm sure the first thing these people did was Google V-PROJECT or DMVmusic to see if it was in use, in which case they would have come across me. Apparently this was of no concern to them.
Well, if your going to rip somebodies name off, why bother with V-PROJECT? Why not get some real web presence with a name like U2, or The Clash, or...oh,oh, I know a good one, what about...Bad Company! That's not being used anymore?
Anyway, the name I had to use for MySpace is vprojectband. So that's me, the original V-PROJECT. Or as always right here at WWW.DMVMUSIC.COM.
I'll be back (as Arnold would say) in a few weeks, so watch for changes right here as well as updates on when the new V-PROJECT CD, which (don't forget) includes 4 new Robin McAuley tracks.
See you in a few!
At some point I would like to add a reviews page to this web site. One page for Lost Demos and another for New Machine. It just makes it easier for people to find them. especially if your a music journalist or press person. But for now (because I don't know how to do the html thing yet) I've deleted all entries that are not reviews from here down.
THE V-PROJECT
Lost Demos - DMV Music
The fact that Robin McAuley (MSG) and James Christian (House Of Lords) are featured vocalists on this album should be enough to interest most rock fans. However musically this is a very strong album with some excellent songs. Put together by David Vaccaro the V-Project combines power and melody in equal amounts.
The title Lost Demos should not put any prospective buyers off as the quality of the recordings matches both the talent involved here and also the content. Eighties melodic rock music is making definite inroads back into the mainstream market place and rightly so as compared to what currently passes for rock music or even pop music these days leaves a lot to be desired. Which leaves audiences wanting more and of course that leaves a gap for the likes of V-Project.
This project has been a work in progress since 1992 which means that really David Vaccaro who to all intents and purposes is the man behind this album did well to bide his time before releasing it. Had this album been released then it would have fallen foul of the then booming Seattle movement, which was sweeping all before it including some platinum-selling artists.
So musically we know this is going to be strong and with vocalists of the class of McCauley and Christian the performance will also be worth a listen. Whilst I am a huge fan of James Christian it is Robin McCauley who takes top honours with Can't Wait Any Longer being as good as anything I have heard the guy do although there is a great feel and tone to the song when I'm Drunk which has a good line in humorous lyrics and a nice Celtic feel as well.
It would be a shame for this release to sink without trace as a lot of time and I would imagine a lot of David Vaccaro's soul has been invested into this project and while it would no doubt take an incredible amount of money to put this show on the road I would certainly like to hear the end results should that ever come about. In the meantime enjoy this album and who knows perhaps we will see second volume of this interesting and highly listenable musical collaboration.
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V-PROJECT - LOST DEMOS (FEATURES ROBIN MCAULEY OTHERS)A.O.R. (ROCK)
If ever there was a CD title that sent out the wrong message, it´s this one, for this album, while it may be strictly true to call them ´demos´, contains flowing majestic tracks with a tight and cohesive sound that takes it way beyond mere demos!
The electric/acoustic guitar playing is outstanding and there´s a crisp, solid rhythm section at work to keep it all true and tight. In the best AOR tradition, synthesizers are used as backdrops, plus there is a big panoramic production given to most of the 10 songs.
Top all that off with high-flying vocals and great harmonies, with guest vocals from Robin McAuley on many tracks, plus Christopher Post, and Dennis Gresham, and you have what is fundamentally high quality guitar-driven, rock-solid AOR that works superbly from start to finish.
It has a clarity that means you get to hear every nuance of the instrumentation, but also a vastness of sound that typifies truly excellent, harmony-filled AOR. The vocals throughout are first rate, the compositions, equally so, while the dynamics of the musicianship is incredibly impressive. Overall, this is a quality album that deserves to have a wide audience enjoying its wares.
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I'm amazed at the large number of requests I get regarding Robin McAuley's solo CD, Business As Usual. It's a great record (us older guys still call them records, okay?) and for those who are aware of the CD but not sure what it's all about, a very informative review by Michael "Radrocker" Debbage breaks it all out for you. It's posted at Lennart Hedenstrom's Northern Light website. (the "more" link should take you right to it) Check it out if you'd like to know more about this great CD of Robins. Unfortunately it's hard to find a copy, but they're out there so keep trying!
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V-Project - Lost Demos
V-Project is quite an interesting tale. It is not a band for starters. V-Project is the collection of demos released by David Vaccaro who co-wrote all the material that has never been released before and features four different vocalists including the undeniably exceptional pipes of veteran Robin McAuley, who is best known for his work with MSG, as well as James Christian of House of Lords fame. Rounding out the compilation are singers Dennis Gresham and Christopher Post, who fronted the band Dillinger.
What you´ll hear on the CD is exactly what the album title states; these are demos that just never saw the light of day until now. The bonus of it all is the fact that these songs were recorded on a small multi-track cassette recorder yet the sound is polished, as if it was done through a massive state of the art set up and facility. The quality is quite superb considering where it came from.
Vaccaro co-wrote the material that brings us back to a day where you can honestly call a musician a true musician. You really can´t do that so much these days. Hell, many guitarists out there today admit that they can´t play solos and even some don´t have all six-strings on their guitars. Let´s face it, it wasn´t the ´80s that many criticized – it´s today´s genre of rock/metal that truly thrives on nothing more than three-chords. It´s all in the arrangement. But I digress. These are songs in the best definition of the term. The melodies are far superior from what we´ve been force-fed for the past several years.
This is melodic rock plain and simple. No heavy and aggressive "life sucks" thing going on here. The material found on Lost Demos is more uplifting and sincere quality of rock that probably will cater to fans of days and memories of good times past. Remember? When everybody was actually happy and enjoyed being alive?
Not to undermine the efforts put forth by the others, the standout material found on Lost Demos consists of the six tracks Vaccaro worked on with Robin McAuley. For the most part, the songs are acoustic driven pieces, but still pack a bit of a punch, like on the opening track "Only Friend," while songs like "I´m Feeling It Now" or "Can´t Wait Any Longer" touch a more soothing, softer side. "When I´m Drunk" is just one of those songs where you can almost picture yourself sitting on a log at the beach at night around a fire with some friends, one with a guitar of course, drinking beers, swaying side to side and just having a good time with your friends, singing along, perhaps reminiscing or just enjoying the moment.
Although the majority of people aren´t familiar with Dennis Gresham, he does a good job on the somewhat bopping "Coupe Deville." That´s followed by the ballad-like "Trippin´ Away" and "All Over Again" featuring Dillinger vocalist Christopher Post. Good stuff, but it may be just a bit too sappy for some, which is fine. We´re not here to prove how pissed off we can be. But "All Over Again" does manage to pick up the pace a bit.
And then things all come to an end with the booming "Rattle Your Cage" with House of Lords vocalist James Christian at the mic. Here we drop the acoustic and get plugged in. A definite pick me up and a good way to end things on Lost Demos.
Actually, the album ends with a hidden reprise of "I´m Feeling It Now."
I highly suggest anyone who enjoyed the melodic rock of such bands like MSG, House of Lords, Firehouse, or Enuff Z´Nuff to give Lost Demos a spin. You won´t regret it.
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The V-Project - Lost Demos
(DMV Music)
This is a harmonious collection of un-used melodic songs that have all been co-written by the truly remarkabley talented David Vaccaro (who everyone should know about - hopefully in time, everyone will).
There's material here that makes it a criminal offence to leave songs in the can on the shelf gathering dust somewhere in a long lost locked room that no-one can find the key or directions to if you found that key !!! These numbers aren't your usual melodic rock that you've heard a thousand times already over the last 15 or so years - instead they are of an electric/acoustic relaxing quality that originally turned you on to the incredible material found on albums like Led Zeppelin 3 and 4 but brought more up to date without losing that bright, glowing, atmospheric style that new technology seems to kill these days. They date from 1993 - 2001 but you wouldn't realize it - unless you read the CD sleeve.
On 'The Lost Demos' you are greeted with the Robert Planty like voice of the ex-MSG frontman Robin McAuley who places so much warmth and energy into the strong magical ballad 'I'm Feeling It Now' (there's two versions as well - awesome !!!) that even has elements of a cosmic early Queen sort of feel.
If you wanna hear something of a less serious nature then you'll love 'When I'm Drunk' about dodging the tax man and staying with the Queen !!! (i.e. Her Majesties Prison). It has that light-hearted Tyla texture to it and is incredibly likeable. The songs reminds you that Robin is Irish and Proud as the accent is at its peak throughout.
Not only that, 3 other rock throats are found here like Dennis Gresham (of 'Highboy 69') on the bouncy 'Coupe Deville' which recollects memories of riding in that so-named car that his mate owned many moons ago. There's the voice of 'Dillinger', Christopher Post on the hands in the air 'Trippin' Away' or the ballsy 'Rattle Your Cage' featuring James Christian (from House of Lords).
This really is the best collection of Demos that have graced my old tabs !!! Thank god they've been released - I recommend you check this out too.
Buy it direct from www.dmvmusic.com
10/10
By Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS
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The V-Project - Lost Demos [DMV Music]
Listening to the "Lost Demos" I can't imagine never hearing anything that came from the hands of David Vaccaro before.
Together with some of Melodic Rock's big and not so big names he has managed to write and record some pretty decent tunes over the last ten years or so. The guys who co-wrote the songs are also responsible for the vocal parts on most of them.
And with people like Robin McAuley (ex-MSG) and James Christian (House Of Lords) you can't really go wrong, can you? Dennis Gresham and Chris Post (Dillinger) aren't as well known, but that doesn't make their performance less impressive, although no one tops McAuley on this album.
The majority of the mainly acoustic driven songs is of a quality that makes you scratch behind your ears and go: "Why has this never been released earlier?" With songs melodic to the core, Vaccaro takes you back to an era when Rock wasn't about making a quick buck, but about songs written and performed from the heart.
The often insightful lyrics are very recognizable: everyone has loved and lost, everyone has had times when he or she rather wanted to be with someone else, only to find out that the times you had with the person you left were much better ("The Good Times"). And how many people go back to the place where they grew up, to see there's nothing left of the glory they thought it had when they were young? ("Coupe Deville")
These lyrics, accompanied by the beautiful melodies, make that I've treasured this album from the day it fell in the mailbox. As the album title says, these songs are officially demos, but don't be surprised if these demos sound a lot better then a whole bunch of so called full blown productions that have hit the market the last few years. I don't know if David is looking for a label to release this CD, but if you ask me they should be standing in line to sign a contract.
Rating: MMMM 1/2
Review by Fred Monster for Majestic Magazine
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Here's a link to a great website in Japan. There's a review on the Lost Demos CD there. I don't know exactly what it says, (since it's in Japanese) but it sure looks cool. It's rated 8.5 out of 10. Sounds good to me.
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The V-Project - Lost Demos
(DMV Music)
As the title suggests, this is a collection of previously unreleased or forgotten demos pulled together by guitarist / writer / producer David Vaccaro from recording sessions which have taken place over the past decade or so. However, don't let the title fool you as, despite being recorded on relatively unsophisticated equipment, 'Lost Demos' has a crisp, fresh sound that would rival many a big name release from some expensive studio. And what's more, featuring the likes of Robin McAuley (Grand Prix / MSG) and James Christian (House Of Lords) guesting on vocals, it ought to raise more than a few eyebrows in AOR circles.
Featuring ten tracks of earthy, predominantly acoustic based hard rock, there's a good mixture of mid tempos rockers (of which the James Christian fronted 'Rattle Your Cage' is probably the heaviest) and reflective ballads ('Only Friend', 'Can't Wait Any Longer' which has a kinda Boston edge to it, etc.), all very well written and executed - although I wasn't fond of the tongue in cheek 'When I'm Drunk' as it does detract a touch from the other nine tracks which are all far better.
Vaccaro is certainly to be credited for finally bringing these songs to the attention of the hard rock populace - songwriting of this quality deserves some recognition.
Review by (D.Cockett) for Destiny Records
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THE V-PROJECT - Lost Demos, (DMV Music)
melodic rock
1st studio album/compilation
10 tracks - TT 49:40 80/100
"Lost Demos" is a unique CD in the fact that it both is and is not a compilation album. As a sampler it brings together four talented vocalists: Robin McAuley (ex-MSG) on 6 tracks, Christopher Post (ex-Dillinger) on two tracks, James Christian (ex-House Of Lords) on one track ("Rattle Your Cage") and the relatively unknown Dennis Gresham (Highboy 69) also on one track ("Coupe Deville").
On the other hand, having co-written and produced the whole album, "Lost Demos" is certainly the first true release of David Vaccaro's band The V-Project. As the album title suggests, these 10 tracks are demos (1992-2001), but don't let the word demo fool you as these are no garage recordings! Although recorded on a small multi track cassette recorder the quality rivals that of a pro 24-track recording!
First and foremost David Vaccaro is a songwriter and all of the ten songs (which were all co-written with the above mentioned artists) portray his acoustic based, melodic rock style, giving you an insight into his songwriting and musical influences from past to present (including Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and Matchbox 20).
The first six songs all feature Robin McAuley on vocals and any Rock Report reader meanwhile knows how good this vocalist is. Best of those six tracks are the three that were written by the trio McAuley - Vaccaro - Post in 1995: album opener "Only Friend", its follow-up "I'm Feeling It Now" and the acoustic-flavoured "Can't Wait Any Longer".
The two tracks that were written by the duo McAuley - Vaccaro in 1997 are both less good than the ones just mentioned, but "When I'm Drunk" (also co-written by McAuley and Vaccaro) is certainly the odd one out here. I know it's supposed to be fun, but I can't help thinking that it's totally misplaced here.
Track # 7, "Coupe Deville" is the only one co-written and sung by Dennis Gresham and it doesn't much to me either. Things are getting better again with the two Post - Vaccaro written songs, called "Trippin' Away" (2001) and "All Over Again" (1993) and both melodic rockers feature a Christopher Post in top form! Good stuff!
The oldest and heaviest track on offer is the wonderful album closer "Rattle Your Cage", written by Micheev - Vaccaro - Krasn in 1992 and performed by no one else than James Christian, whom we all idolize.
Thanks to David Vaccaro for sending me a review copy of his project. He was definitely right when he said that his V-Project deserved my attention. As a matter of fact it deserves the attention of a much wider audience. Hope to hear more of this talented songwriter, guitarist, bassist, programmer and producer in the future.
Review by Chris Lambert, Rock Report Magazine
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The V-Project – Lost Demos (DMV Music)
Combine the talents of four of the industry´s veteran musicians with today´s rare, "no synthesized" true rock recording, and you´ve got Lost Demos.
It is such a refreshing listen. V-Project, the brain-child of co-writer and guitarist David Vaccaro, is made up of Robin McAuley from MSG (who has two Gold and one double-Platinum records in his pocket), James Christian of House of Lords fame (with a Platinum release under his belt), Christopher Post of Dillinger and Dennis Gresham of Highboy 69. This CD brings us both seasoned musicians and high quality tunes.
From the start, I was hit by "Only Friend", written by McAuley/Vaccaro/Post. It´s universally relatable lyrics of gratitude, contrasting harmonies, percussion and Latin-style guitar make this one a keeper. "The Good Times", with its beautifully inviting guitar opening, is also impossible to resist.
The lyrics on the CD bring us through a range of emotions that are sensitive, sweet, meaningful and always heartfelt. The range of guitars used—six string, 12-string, acoustic and bass—make Lost Demos any player´s dream. Every listener will feel the depth and authenticity of this music.
Review by Carol Anne Szel for Inside Connection Magazine
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THE V-PROJECT
Lost Demos
DMV Music
The V-Project is essentially multi-instrumentalist David Vaccaro, and as the title suggests, what we have on offer here is demo material - though the production is so good that the description demo does it scant justice - gathered together over the span of the 1990's; and it features vocal contributions from Robin McAuley (six in all), James Christian, Christopher Post, and Dennis Grisham.
Opener 'Only Friend' finds McAuley in reflective mood, amidst a gathering atmosphere facilitated by Vaccaro's arrangements and widescreen guitar lines, whilst 'I'm Feeling It Now' carries hints of the mighty Tribe of Gypsies; a theme returned to on the flamenco flavoured 'The Good Times', which sees McAuley crooning a very Steve Perry like melody.
McAuley's final contribution of his six is a personal favourite, the stumble out of Soho's Blue Post's at 2 a.m. drinking roar of 'When I'm Drunk'. The Pogues would have been proud of this.
Dennis Grisham who phrases like Zakk Wylde but is akin to Tom Petty in tone chips in on the acoustic driven Americana of 'Coupe De Ville', whilst Christopher Post's contribution on 'Trippin' Away' and 'All Over Again' just don't convince; this is not a charge that can be laid at James Christian's door who goes for vocal shred on the headknocking 'Rattle Your Cage, which sees Vaccaro in Doug Aldrich style form.
One suspects that a few labels might be beating on Mr. Vaccaro's door, and rightly so, for this is first class melodic hard rock. Oh, and extra kudos for the packaging.
7.5/10 Andrew Paul
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Behind THE V-Project you can find a promising band around talented guitarist David Vaccaro which features four vocalists on the mic: Robin McAuley (ex-MSG, 6 songs), James Christian (HOUSE db_OF LORDS, 1 song), Christopher Post (DILLINGER, 2 songs) and Dennis Gresham (1 song). Also, the CD title seems to be a bit irritating as the quality of the recording by no means is a demo sound - it's really great!
Muscially, most of the tracks can be compared to the stuff McAuley did on his latest Japan only solo album and also to the laid back/ acoustic stuff of MSG (McAuley era). Good examples for this are "Be There For You" and "I'm Feeling For You". The material was recorded through out the whole 90s mostly but nevertheless comes along as one unit. Mr. Post's vocals can be found on the tracks "Trippin' Away" and "All Over Again" which are a bit more rocky and reminds me a lot on the guy from THE VERVE vocal-wise whereas the music is typical US typed Hard Rock meets Country. As James Christian (HOUSE db_OF LORDS) is one of my fave vocalists of all times, it's really no surprise that his contribution on "Rattle Your Cage" seems to turn out as my favorite tune on the record. This one would have fit onto his solo album as well. Great rockin' stuff!
Overall, an album worth checking out for fans of the above mentioned bands and styles. Cool!
Review by Birgitt Schwanke
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The V in V-Project is for David Vaccaro, who has assembled these tracks, various demos he has recorded over the years and unfortunately not been able to subject to a wider release.
Interestingly for us, the singers used to provide vocals for these songs are of some considerable to melodic rock fans.
Robin McAuley co-writes and sings on tracks 1 to 6 - all of which are soft, moody pop rock AOR ballads. Vocalist Dennis Gresham sings on a track Coupe DeVille, which in some respect reminds me of John Mellencamp's Human Wheels. Dillinger's Christopher Post sings on Tripping Away and All Over Again, both of which are acoustic driven, southern tinged pop rockers. The last track is Rattle Your Cage, which is the most rocking song of the relatively laid back album. James Christian puts in his usual high quality vocal. A good collection of ballad and mid tempo pop rockers, made even better by some outstanding vocalists.
The songs are demo's but are above average for production value. A solid and enjoyable AOR release, but keep in mind it is more laid back than not.
Rating: 80%
Review by Andrew McNeice
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DMV Music 2001 Review by Kimmo Lauttalammi 30 December 2001
The man behind "The V-Project" is one David Vaccaro, a talented guitarist/songwriter/producer. "Lost Demos" have been recorded during the last ten years or so, and although they are "just" demos and recorded on a rather primitive equipment according to the sleeve notes, the sound is better than some things that are sold to us as "real albums" these days. So, new bands looking for a producer who can deliver on a shoestring budget...maybe David could be your man?
Given the rather unknown status of David Vaccaro, you might be surprised to find that the vocalists on this album are everything but unknown - Robin McAuley of MSG/Far Corporation/Elements Of Friction fame handles provides lead vocals on 6 of the tunes, while James Christian (House Of Lords) adds his voice to one song. The other two singers are admittably a little less well known, Christhoper Post of Dillinger and Dennis Gresham.
The songs range from melodic and intimate AOR tracks like "Only Friend" and "I'm Feeling It Now" (both sung by McAuley) via modern "no-frills" rock of "Coup Deville" to the hard rocking of "Rattle My Cage" (James Christian on vocals). There's even a very "irish"-kinda sing-along song in there...a mixed bag for sure, but never less than enjoyable. There may be no "songs of the year" -candidates in here, but the overall quality is quite good.
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THE V-PROJECT "Lost Demos" (Dmv Music) Rating: 75
Dave Vaccaro is a multi-instrumentalist that debuts with this very interesting CD including songs written from 1992 to 2001 and featuring on vocals Robin McAuley (MSG, Elements Of Friction), James Christian (House Of Lords), Christopher Post (Dillinger) and Dennis Gresham.
The first six songs are all sung good (and co-written) by Robin McAuley and they are almost mid tempos and semi-ballads. "Only Friend" offers catchy arrangements of percussions, "I'm Feeling It Now" and "The Good Times" are developed along moody harmonies with a nice work of acoustic and electric guitar. Compared to these, "Can't Wait Any Longer" and "Be There For You" show only a more dancing going with a stronger pop presence due to the writing of Dave that also writes a nice Irish ballad, "When I'm Drunk".
Then Gresham takes the mic for "Coupe Deville" that recalls certain semi electric ballads of Guns'N'Roses without their magnetic force, while Post sings the average "Trippin' away" and the cheerful "All Over Again", a really nice AOR semi ballad.
The only real rocker is the tenth song, "Rattle Your Cage" with James Christian on vocals, a fast and rough hard rock that mixes the contagious riffing of AC/DC and elements very close to House Of Lords, a song that I cannot stop listening to.
The drum machine sound has well known limits, but all in all "Lost Demos" is a very professional album, with a nice packaging and a bunch of songs that deserve our attention.
Review by FLASH Magazine music writer Andrea Bertamino
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V-Project, Lost Demos, DMV Music, USA, 2001
If I told you that lead vocalists Robin McAuley from MSG and House Of Lords` James Christian were featured on this album would it grab your attention? That fact aside, unknown songwriter, guitarist and producer David Vaccaro has come up with a little treasure that is due to be discovered anytime soon. Propelled by his self-promoting DMV Music, "Lost Demos" is well produced arranged and executed by David Vaccaro. It is not the "demos" that are lost but more so the record labels for overlooking this artist. He could easily be a household name with all those who enjoy melodic pop rock if ever given the correct opportunity.
I have to confess that the name James Christian was the initial attraction to this album. But upon my first venture into the tracks I then realized that this is all about the talented unknown David Vaccaro who clearly has an ear for a catchy tune. In fact, with the exception of the James Christian chest-beating rocker "Rattle Your Cage", the songs are simplistic and bare but not naked. If I were to come up with a musical comparison I would say that the Firehouse "Good Acoustics"/ "Category 5" era would be a close parallel. They are largely strong foot tapping acoustic based ballads and mid tempo rockers.
While I love the rocker "Rattle Your Cage", it is Robin McAuley that steals the show and this is a good thing as he is featured on 6 of the 10 tracks. Of these tracks the highlight is clearly the amusing ditty "When I`m Drunk" which opens with the clanking of glasses and people talking in a pseudo pub. There is some nice guitar work sounding like a mandolin. With its folk overtones, it could have been a perfect Lindisfarne song. One can only imagine being transported to an intimate English pub drinking a cool quenching Newcastle Brown Ale on tap. As the songs fades there is a man with hickups and people laughing giving the warm song an amusing conclusion.
A close second is the highly melodic and reflective "The Good Times". There is a delightfully soulful but reserved acoustic solo from Vaccaro with some nice basic percussion to boot. Equally as impressive is the brooding and somber "I`m Feeling It Now" and the menacing "Only Friend" that opens the CD.
Frankly, all six songs involving McAuley are impressive and this is clearly his best performance since the difficult to find "Unplugged" import cd with the McAuley Schenker Group (MSG). It appears he does well in a framework where the music is not over-baring or complex but allows intimacy.
The bad news is that the non-McAuley/Christian tracks are average while the good news is there are only three such tracks. Even here, "All Over Again" succeeds partially due to the well-executed guitar playing from both Vaccaro and Christopher Post, the latter also providing the vocals. As this song rocks a little it is a solid introduction to the previously mentioned foot stomping "Rattle Your Cage."
While to many it would appear that David Vaccaro is a newcomer, this is quite the contrary as these compositions have been a work in progress since 1992. It is a shame that this man has been overlooked to date, as this album is a strong reflection of an artist that deserves to succeed. The record labels should pay very close attention to this man. From the listening pleasures of the disc, to the catchy artwork found on the cover, to the highly informative website, where you can also hear and purchase this cd, this artist is asking to be heard. Let Vaccaro bend your ear...you will be pleasantly surprised with what your ears hear.
Review by Michael "Radrocker" Debbage for Northern Light
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For December 2001 Rock Reunion is featuring an in depth interview with Guitarist David Vaccaro of The V-Project. Find out more about the recording and songwriting of the Lost Demos CD.
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THE V-PROJECT - LOST DEMOS (DMV MUSIC)
The V-project is a selection of unreleased demos featuring former MSG singer Robin McAuley, Dillinger singer Christopher Post, and House Of Lords singer James Christian who performs only on one track called `Rattle Your Cage` which is typical of Christian`s style. This song is fun rocker which wouldn`t have sounded out of place on his solo album "Rude Awakening" or any Kiss album from the eighties or Paul Sabu album for that matter.
The other songs make this collection worth buying as they are all great catchy melodic rockers n ballads to sing along to. Imagine what a glossier production could do to these songs which is something any labels should consider doing.
The V-Project is basically the brainchild of David Vaccaro who wrote all the material alongside the aforementioned artists. It`s the McAuley sung material that I really like, check out opener `Only Friend`, a charming melodic piece with lovely Latin and electric guitar parts. McAuley`s vocals are really smooth and this song reminds me a little bit of Kip Wingers material, "Angel Of The Underground` comes to mind.
Next up is the infectious grooves of `I`m Feeling It Now`, whilst `The Good Times` open with some tribalish drumming and more Latinish guitar parts, this song has a summery feel good vibe that builds in to a great arrangement as the songs progresses.
`Can`t Wait Any Longer` was less inspiring and sound like Tesla in their `Signs` acoustic mode. `Be There For You` at first sounds forgettable, but grows with each listen as it charms seduce you into it`s simple structure, very good song in the vein of Signal/Mark Free. `When I`m Drunk` is a fun silly tune that you would find Bob Dylan or Dog`s D`amour performing, again it`s cheesy but grows with each listen and it`s good to hear McAuley trying his hand at an Irish accent.
`Coupe Deville` is too country based acoustic pop for my liking, whilst `Trippin` Away` is another good infectious melodic piece with Christopher Post handling the vocals and `All Over Again` is another song I loved to bits which has a Tyketto feel circa "Strength In Numbers".
Overall despite sometimes-cheesy lyrics, this is a really good show of melodic rock, and would be even better if a label got behind David and got these songs recorded with a more glossy production. A must for any Robin McAuley and James Christian fan.
Nicky Baldrian
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·Doug·s Top 5·
The V Project - ·Lost Demos·
10-Song CD
This pristinely recorded and superbly produced album is the brainchild of musician David Vaccaro. In the late eighties Vaccaro formed the V-Project here in New England and enlisted the talents of drummer Derek Blevins who had just left the Jon Butcher Axis. After disbanding, Vaccaro left the area for the West Coast to pursue his dream of making music.
While there, he befriended lead singer Robin McAuley of the McAuley Schenker Group who contributes to the first six tracks of this disc with lead vocals and co-writing credits (along with Vaccaro). James Christian from the band, House of Lords also imparts his vocal talents to the cut ·Rattle Your Cage· while the remaining tracks are handled by singers Dennis Gresham and Christopher Post.
The overall outcome of the album is astounding. The arrangements are lush and full and boast an arena rock sentiment. Vaccaro·s role as guitarist, keyboardist, engineer and producer is impressive as he uses minimal technology to gain maximum results. He also captured the best his guests had to offer making Lost Demos one of the finest albums of the year from this region or any other.
Review by Douglas Sloan
THE V-PROJECT `LOST DEMOS' (DMV Music)
Guitarist/Songwriter David Vaccaro is the leader behind the V-PROJECT. Their CD `Lost demos` contains a collection of songs from artists that were not released on previous records and to most music fans, never even know about. The CD features some excellent performances by singers such as Robin McAuley (MSG) and James Christian (HOUSE db_OF LORDS) and Christopher Post (DILLINGER).
There are 10 tracks on the CD and don`t let the CD title fool you, because the lost demos surely don`t sound like demos. This is a high quality produced CD with some interesting melodic tunes. The first 6 songs are all sung by ROBIN MCAULEY and feature the best parts on the CD. "Only friend", "I`m feeling it now", "The good times" and "Can`t wait any longer" are all good calmer laid-back melodic AOR rock/semi-ballads with an updated modern approach, but still very melodic and interesting for any AOR fan. A bit less interesting are the Pop orientated pieces such as "Be there for you", "When I`m drunk", "Coupe deville" and "Trippin` away".
My favourite tracks though are the last 2 songs, both pure AOR/Melodic (Hard) Rock. First up there is the fantastic semi AOR ballad "All over again" (vocals by Christopher Post). Final track of the album is the good uptempo Melodic Hardrocker "Rattle your cage" (the only uptempo rocker), with fantastic lead vocals by James Christian, a song that will be loved by anyone into HOUSE db_OF LORDS. There`s a bit of everything on this CD (AOR, Pop, Rock and Hardrock), and especially fans of JAMES CHRISTIAN and ROBIN MCAULEY will find this a very interesting release. Check it out at: http://www.dmvmusic.com and e-mail at: dmvmusic@netscape.net
Rating: 7,5/10 (Review by Gabor Kleinbloesem)
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The V-Project--- Lost Demos (DMV Music)
While many fans of 80s melodic rock may secretly admit to the fact that the last album they bought came from that era, others keep an eye toward new bands that don`t necessarily dig into yesteryear`s vault. V-Project`s Lost Demos could please both groups, given that guitar newcomer David Vaccaro teams up with vocalists including MSG`s Robin McAuley and House of Lords` James Christian. The end result is a set of tunes that dig deep into a vivid spectrum of harmonies and catchy hooks that make up the bulk of the songs of this album, whether it`s the roots rock of "Coupe Deville" or the flamenco-styled-meets early Journey-esque "The Good Times." Vaccaro shows strong guitar-playing skills through and through, not necessarily trying to burn or shred the guitar fretboard but merely going for a tone, style and a flavor that has good aftertaste. It`s these qualities that make Lost Demos a good pick on a melodic menu. --- Omar Perez
September 2001 © Altar Native
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David Vaccaro, the driving force behind the V-Project, is an American musician that I had not heard of before getting this CD. As the title suggests, "The Lost Demos" contains demo material that David has put together through the years (90-98) that hasn`t found it`s way to any release, until now. Don`t worry too much about the word "demo" here because the recordings and production are actually rather good all things considered. The CD contains ten tracks all being very melodic first of all and the styles range from straight melodic hard rock to acoustic pop with emphasis on beautiful harmonies. Except for the vocals and some additional 12-string guitar and saxophones, Vaccaro plays all the music. So it`s obvious that there is a talent here that we haven`t been able to hear before. Now he`s finally been able to put together this CD and showcase his talents to all of us out here.
What might raise a few eyebrows or at least give you some recognizable names is that Vaccaro`s been able to line up singers Robin McAuley (Grand Prix, MSG) and James Christian (House Of Lords). The two other singers on the CD are Christopher Post (Dillinger) and Dennis Gresham. Personally I enjoy McAuley`s performance on this one a lot, and he`s on six of the CDs ten tracks which is a good thing.
The opener, "Only Friend", is a mid-tempo melodic track featuring McAuley in fine form and for any AOR/melodic rock fan this has to be pure gold and definitely one of the highlights of the CD. "I`m Feeling It Now" another track along the same lines showcases McAuley`s knack for singing vocal harmonies. It goes for an acoustic sound with a fine electric guitar solo in there. There`s also a cool Celtic sounding drink-and-sing-along type of track, "When I`m Drunk", sung beautifully by McAuley. It`s sort of a melodic and light version of The Pogues. All in all, the McAuley tracks are the highlight for me and it is nice to hear the man`s voice in this scaled down and intimate setting where the emphasis is on the song and melody.
The rest of the material on the CD isn`t equally strong, in my opinion. The songs that Dennis Gresham and Christopher Post sing are also melodic songs, but a little more pedestrian and seem not to be able to reach out and grab me as much as the McAuley tracks. "Trippin Away" (with Post singing) is worth mentioning though with its guitar solo in the US-radio-rock-from-the-late-70s-early-80s-vibe a la Boston and similar bands. Great fun! James Christian gets to belt out his typical macho grunts on a very 80s sounding straight hard rocker, ·Rattle Your Cage" . It`s definitely on the forgettable side even though it`s perfectly executed.
The bottom line is that any fan of melodic rock will certainly find a lot of good stuff on this one. Hopefully there won`t be too long before we get to hear another CD from Vaccaro.
Review by Lennart Hedenstrom, Sept 2, 2001 - The Northern Light
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New Machine
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