Malibu Storm

Amazon.com
While still teenagers, Michael Alden and his twin sisters Dana and Lauren won music competitions, performed professionally on the contemporary bluegrass circuit, and even self-released an album, Duality, in 1996. Malibu Storm is their first for Rounder and is a potent introduction to the various facets of their compelling talents. With the exception of the instrumental "Clover," the trio works with a bracing range of outside material, showcasing their playing and, most especially, their vibrant, genetically linked harmony singing. They know the roots of the music they love and are not afraid to branch out, fearlessly drawing from such disparate sources as Def Leppard ("Photograph"), Janis Ian ("Some People's Lives"), and Allen Toussaint ("Working in a Coal Mine"). --David Greenberger

Tracks:

The Bird Song
Photograph
I'd Be With You
Light In Your Eyes
Long Way To Fall
Faith Give Me A Little More Than I Need
Clover
Old Hickory Lake
Working In A Coal Mine
Hammer And Nails
Takin' The Wheel
Some People's Lives

Amazon.com

While still teenagers, Michael Alden and his twin sisters Dana and Lauren won music competitions, performed professionally on the contemporary bluegrass circuit, and even self-released an album, Duality, in 1996. Malibu Storm is their first for Rounder and is a potent introduction to the various facets of their compelling talents. With the exception of the instrumental "Clover," the trio works with a bracing range of outside material, showcasing their playing and, most especially, their vibrant, genetically linked harmony singing. They know the roots of the music they love and are not afraid to branch out, fearlessly drawing from such disparate sources as Def Leppard ("Photograph"), Janis Ian ("Some People's Lives"), and Allen Toussaint ("Working in a Coal Mine"). --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

What a disaster.......2007-04-11

Remember the superb album album that these girls released several years ago as "The Schankman Twins"?
I can't believe that this is the same twins who have totally forsaken their roots and produced one of the worst albums I have every heard. It has no identity and the girls have squandered a wonderful opportunity to follow in the steps of Alison Krauss etc.
It does seem to suggest that Malibu Storm have tried to rid themselves of the "country" connection and they have certainly succeeded. What Rob Ickes and Bryan Sutton are doing on this CD defeats me.

great for those who don't usually listen to bluegrass.......2006-01-24

this is a great album for anyone who doesn't normally listen to bluegrass. it feels contemporary and hip, but remains true to its roots. Malibu Storm are probably going to be blow up on the nashville scene soon. these three siblings are really talented and definitely deserve a good listen!

Surfgrass??.......2004-10-23

Their given name probably conjures up fun in the sun, and surf-rock music a la the Ventures and the Beach Boys. Their sound, however, is a modern take on bluegrass. So it goes with the debut album of sisters Dana Burke and Lauren Mills and their brother Michael Alden--collectively known as Malibu Storm.

With Dana on vocals and banjo, Lauren on fiddle and vocals, and Michael on bass and vocals, but utilizing many of the Usual Suspects (Bryan Sutton; Adam Steffey; Rob Ickes) of Nashville's bluegrass session musicians community, Malibu Storm have made a very good start for themselves here. In general, most of the songs here, including the Rebekka Bramlett-Beth Nielsen Chapman composition "Old Hickory Lake", are well-suited for their newgrass (or is it "surfgrass") approach. Others, like their down-home cover of Lee Dorsey's 1966 R&B classic "Working In A Coal Mine", get an unusual treatment with the traditional bluegrass instruments. Obviously, the one track on this album that is liable to raise some ire with many (it already has here, at least once) is their cover of Def Leppard's 1983 arena-rock smash "Photograph." Cries of "Heresy!" are likely to be heard here more and more often from now on--to think that this song could receive a bluegrass approach! Personally, though, even if this version gets steeped in controversy, I don't think the trio have done any worse by covering this Def Leppard song than Dolly Parton did by "bluegrassing" up Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven."

Overall, this is a fairly good album--probably not totally perfect (and of course there's the matter of the Def Leppard cover), but compared to much of the dreck Nashville has force-fed its audience in recent years, you can do far, far worse than Malibu Storm.

Hitcooper.com Review.......2004-10-12

I loved this album! Malibu Storm has actually been around for awhile, but this is their first real country album... And it's great! They're originally a bluegrass group, so if you like bluegrass mixed with new country then you have just discovered the perfect album! Hitcooper.com is featuring them on their website, with a great interview and review... and as usual that's a sure sign they're worth checking out!

Malibu Storm - fun & talented.......2004-09-10

I love the harmonies and these folks can play! This is a great record; light, breezy and anchored with strong musicianship. Sometimes you just want to sit back, relax, sing along & tap your toe. What a relief to know that there's more than just bubblegum pop coming from the next generation!

Average customer rating:

Just...no.
Pretty good debut
Write Your Own Music
WOW this is good
WOW is this good

Photograph/Hammer And Nails
Malibu Storm
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B0002ABUFW
Release Date: 2004-06-08

Tracks:

Photograph
Hammer and Nails

Album Description

"Photograph" is the debut single from Malibu Storm, an exciting contemporary country trio featuring Dana Burke, Lauren Mills, and Michael Alden. Also included is their high energy version of "Hammer and Nails." Both tracks are from their upcoming Rounder debut CD, Malibu Storm.

Customer Reviews:

Just...no........2004-09-13

I'm trying to understand and see the talent that other people seem to find in this group. As of now, I can't. This rendition of Photograph? Awful. I didn't know it was possible to screw up a song quite so badly. Even if it wasn't a Def Leppard song (Which, come on, you can't outdo Def Leppard), the vocals are just horrible. I would not recommend buying this single whatsoever. And (and I know I'm setting myself up here, lol) Don't rate this review "not helpful" just because you don't happen to agree with my opinion. If we all agreed on here, what would be the point of posting what we think? :)

Pretty good debut.......2004-08-08

These siblings are very talented! Twin sisters Lauren and Dana and younger brother Michael put a new twist on a cool old song. I think it's hip that a bluegrass trio was influenced by a rock band and pays homage to them. I'll be checking out their full-length CD when it comes out for sure.

Write Your Own Music.......2004-07-15

I give this song 3 Stars because I would feel bad giving Def Leppard's greatest song 1 or 2 stars. The band does a weak renditon of, quite possibly, my favorite song ever. The problem is in the fact that this song was meant to rock, not lull one to sleep. I kept my mouth shut when Mariah tried to ruin "Bringing on the Heartbreak," but this has gone too far. Write your own music you hillbilly losers. What are you? Rappers?

WOW this is good.......2004-06-21

This single is amazing. This band is going to change country music!!! They are so talented and the harmonies are shockingly good. The bonus track "Hammer and Nails" is awesome. Malibu Storm is my favorite band!!! Can't wait for the album

WOW is this good.......2004-06-21

I just bought the Malibu Storm single and it is amazing. I believe that this band is going to change country music. They are so talented. Malibu Storm is my favorite band. Can't wait till the albim comes out!!!

Music Album:

Music Album