Artist: The Forecast
Album: Alive For The First Time
Genre: Rock
Label: Unsigned

Tracks:
1. Say You Miss Me
2. A Better Man
3. May You One Day [Carry Me Home] (acoustic)
4. And We All Return To Our Roots (acoustic)
5. You Wreck Me [Cover]

To say I was heartbroken when The Forecast parted ways with Victory Records last would be an understatement. Though I figured it was what was best for the country laced rock band, I didn’t know if we’d hear from them ever again. Here we are just over a year since the split from their label and The Forecast have returned in unsigned glory with their brand new ep entitled, Alive For The First Time.

From the get go, you can tell things have changed with the group over the last year. “Say You Miss Me,” the first of two new songs is completely void of the twang that we found so often on the group’s previous albums. This is a more punk/pop rock structure and style with Shannon’s undeniable vocal strength taking the front seat. This track is raw power and sure to impress just about anyone. The other new track, “A Better Man,” has a bit more that can be related to prior works, but with some new found angst. Dustin’s vocals always remind me of a cleaner Bob Dylan with his ability to describe rural life in picture perfect detail. Dustin actually leads the majority of the track with backup from Shannon (much like Dustin assisted her on the last track). Neither track screams “change,” but rather “evolution,” and leaves us panting for more.

The last three tracks on the record are a bit more of a gift than a presentation of new material. Two acoustic renditions (“May You One Day…” and “We All Return To Our Roots”) has been reworked wonderfully and to me, Shannon’s vocals have never sounded better. She may not be the strongest or most diverse female vocalist out right now, but there’s no denying the allure of her tones. The Forecast follows these throw backs with a Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers cover that fits them like a glove. The track? “You Wreck Me.” It’s a great fit for the group and their rough production only helps to push the track to a new and different level than Petty ever took it.

In the end, it’s safe to say, The Forecast haven’t gone anywhere. Alive For The First Time makes the distance between releases seem worth every minute. If this is a sign of the future, be prepared to be floored.

*Written By: James Shotwell*
Score: 8.5/10

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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