Josh Todd - You Made Me (2004)

I was slightly perplexed by this release, expecting something so totally different from Buckcherry but after giving it a spin, and appreciating it as a cool rock n' roll album, it's not too far removed from his band. The more modern nu-metal feel of 'Burn' and 'Broken' with their heavier, dense riffs are certainly tracks that wouldn't have appeared on a Buckcherry record, but it's on cuts such as 'Lovely Bones' where Todd really shines as an artist. This is a beautiful 7-minute track full of heart and soul, the vocals a mellow touch over this anthemic scarf waver. 'Circles' and 'Afraid' could easily be Buckcherry tunes, because although they have the ability to rock hard their more pastoral passages gift them an uplifting breezy feel. Todd a is a classy frontman with a fair set of pipes, but I have to admit to expecting something a little different, or would rather he spend his time concentrating on Buckcherry who've become a top quality rock band. There are some very good songs on offer but it's not an album I'll be playing a great deal, preferring instead the magical experience of Donnie Vie for a solo serenade. 6/10