Released by: Frontiers Records
Release Date: Out Now!!!
Genre: Melodic Rock
Links: https://www.facebook.com/RonnieAtkinsOfficial
Line Up:
Ronnie Atkins: Lead and backing vocals
Chris Laney: Rhythm guitar, keyboards
Alla Sørensen: Drums
Pontus Egberg: Bass
Morten Sandager: Keyboards
Linnea Vikström Egg: Backing vocals
John Berg: Guitars
Olliver hartmann: Guitars
Pontus Norgren: Guitars
Anders Ringman: Acoustic guitars
Tracklist:
1. I’ve Hurt Myself (By Hurting You) 5:21
2. Unsung Heroes 4:18
3. Rising Tide 4:43
4. Remain To Remind Me 3:54
5. The Tracks We Leave Behind 4:28
6. All I Ask Of You 4:13
7. Grace 3:25
8. Let Love Lead The Way 5:16
9. Blood Cries Out 4:19
10. Easier To Leave (Than Being Left Behind) 3:42
11. Fallen 4:47
12. Make It Count 5:45
When you find out you have stage 4 lung cancer, most people will pack it up, head to the house, and spend the rest of their days getting whatever treatment you can and spending as much time as you can with their families before the inevitable comes along. Unless you’re Ronnie Atkins of Petty Maids fame, and you do those things, but you also record two amazing solo albums, and news is just out that a 3rd Nordic Union album is about to see the light of day. Since things appear to be quiet on the Pretty Maids front these days it’s good news he is well enough to stay as busy as he has. His very first solo album, One Step was a fantastic piece of work for his first time on his own, but would he be able to follow it up with as good a collection of songs?
The answer is no. Make It Count trounces One Step. Right out of the gate Make It Count is a brilliant buffet of AOR deliciousness! As a longtime Pretty Maids fan, this sounds like the album that could’ve launched them to the stratosphere. One of the issues Pretty Maids has had was they were too heavy for the AOR crowd and too lite for the Metal crowd. With Make It Count, Atkins has managed to find the perfect middle ground between melodic with just enough oomph to keep it rocking. Tracks like “Rising Tide,” “I’ve Hurt Myself (By Hurting You),” have that biting edge while tracks like “Grace” and “Easier To Leave (Than To Being Left Behind)” are pure AOR gold. For me, my favorite track on the album is the closer and title track “Make It Count.” It starts beautiful and haunting and has some of Ronnie’s most poignant and emotional lyrics and vocals. About midway through it kicks into this catchy as hell almost danceable, dare I say disco-esque vibe. Think Night Flight Orchestra, but pure Ronnie Atkins.
I hope Ronnie Atkins remains healthy for many years to come and continues to bless us with such amazing music. I would love some more Pretty Maids music, but if Ronnie keeps pumping out stuff as awesome as Make It Count, I think I’ll be happy with that. If you haven’t already picked this up, I think it is a must-have.
Written by: Chris Martin
Ratings: 9/10
About Author
