It is quite tempting to compare We Are Juan's Road to Reach You to albums by the Gin Blossoms and the Goo Goo Dolls. Like those artists, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Charley Weber -- the brains behind We Are Juan -- provides alternative pop/rock that is melodic, tuneful, hooky, and very easy to absorb. But while the Gin Blossoms and the Goo Goo Dolls are good, valid comparisons, they aren't perfect comparisons. Road to Reach You has a decidedly funkier edge, and Weber incorporates a lot of non-rock influences; his ...
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It is quite tempting to compare We Are Juan's Road to Reach You to albums by the Gin Blossoms and the Goo Goo Dolls. Like those artists, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Charley Weber -- the brains behind We Are Juan -- provides alternative pop/rock that is melodic, tuneful, hooky, and very easy to absorb. But while the Gin Blossoms and the Goo Goo Dolls are good, valid comparisons, they aren't perfect comparisons. Road to Reach You has a decidedly funkier edge, and Weber incorporates a lot of non-rock influences; his funkiness comes from an obvious appreciation of hip-hop and electronica (especially jungle/drum'n'bass) as well as world music. One hears a definite Latin influence on the moody opener, "Rosarita," and a very Middle Eastern vibe on "Atomic Rhythm Babies" and the infectious "Salaam," which also has a major hip-hop influence. And much to Weber's credit, all of his musical inspirations come together in a totally organic fashion; Road to Reach You doesn't sound forced, unnatural, pretentious or contrived. Weber comes across as an alternative pop/rock artist who just happens to love a lot of other music as well; Road to Reach You, which was recorded and mixed in 2003 and 2004, has an experimental edge, but with much of the poppy accessibility that the Goo Goo Dolls and the Gin Blossoms are known for. This 47-minute CD isn't quite as consistent as it could have been, but more often than not, Weber's ideas pay off creatively -- and We Are Juan shows considerable promise on Road to Reach You. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi
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