Through the Rails - The Red House

A New Jersey quartet led by lead singer Bruce Tunkel (who also played guitar and piano, and served as primary lyricist), the Red House released their self-titled debut in 1990. Barely out of their teens at the time, the band wear an obvious affinity for U2 on their collective sleeve. They approach their subjects of spirituality and the human condition with an earnestness that, while not wholly original, is still endearing. Musically, the band deliver an earful of catchy choruses set in a melodic modern rock setting, with producer Mark Opitz giving everything a high-sheen buff. Nothing truly stands out here, but the urgent "Rain," the impassioned "I Said a Prayer" (which benefits from a raw vocal growl from Tunkel), and the bracing "The Dream I Never Had" are worth checking out. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.