It's been three years since Max Navarro released his - self-financed, I think - Parallel Lines EP (which id set to be re-released before the end of 2008). This 26-year-old songwriter now releases his first full-length and fans of plain American melodic/new Rock can keep an eye on him, since...
...the likes of Bryan Adams, current BON JOVI, 'mild' AEROSMITH, NUCLEAR VALDEZ and/or (even) Tom Petty will revive through this CD. There are few tense moments in Branded On My Skin, since the majority of the songwriting focuses on mild mid-tempo stuff full of melody and tranquility. The songwriting structure is simple yet effective for your calm moments, with little of distortion since the acoustic guitars dominate the tracklist. Navarro's voice is gentle and mature enough for his age. The leads do not show any virtuoso attempt, and that's quite reasonable for this kind of placid Rock. As for the rhythm section: 100% predictable but fitting, anyway.
All I Want Is Everything is a drive-along song in its semi-fast tempo, Angel is an interesting ballad (reminding - at times - of the AEROSMITH same-titled tune) and Everything Of You can act as a good America Rock opener. All in all, a kinda nice album; nothing less, nothing more. Fans of guitar-driven dynamic Rock should stay away, I recommend. Branded On My Skin should apply only to 'relaxing' people, with a to-the-limit recipe for melodic Hard Rock fans.