202 by Driven aka Life Death & Giants

But, since I have to give you an idea on what to expect I would say this: Driven is the out-of-control love child of U2 and Aerosmith who was adopted by INXS. And there you have it. They have been compared to Match Box 20 and Goo Goo Dolls and while I agree with the comparison it is really tough to put them

in one category. Their music is a blend of rock, euro pop, and power pop, with a splash of techno thrown in to spice it up. American Chaz Ross, Australian Troy MacCubbin, and German Sven Martin bring their own styles and influences to make the musical journey that is their debut album 202. Full of great rock guitars, the best drum tracks in the world, and rich vocals, every song is a "stick-in-your-head" statement of life and love. There's the tender father to daughter dedication "Summer Star" which will have any "daddys little girl" crying on impact! The all out rocking "Tragedy," along with monster ballads and tunes that are indescribably memorable. This album is now my favorite, and is bound to be yours too! You never knew a didgeridus could sound so cool! Check out the crazy aboriginal instrument rocking it in the start of "Today." (full version above) We chose DRIVEN as our August group of the month due to their album outscoring EVERY one that we reviewed this month! Their growing popularity in LA was evidenced in their two recent shows and the industry response they garnered! The guys recently did a show at the world famous VIPER ROOM in L.A. Details and pictures to come soon!"

FREE T-SHIRT and BABY T OFFER!!!!!!

Before being known as DRIVEN, the band played the undergound scene at LA's vibiest venues under the name LIFE DEATH & GIANTS or LDG. We have a limited number of these original shirts available and will send one free shirt with each CD purchase! The shirts are premium quality Hanes shirts (100% cotton); they are dark blue with very cool silver LDG graphics. For the ladies there are black "Baby Ts" as well as Black and Pink Spagetti Stap shirts. These shirts originally sold for $16.99 but are now available for FREE with CD purchase!!! Shipping charges for the shirt via US Priority Mail are $3.85 as this is what the post office charges. To get your free T-shirt, send an email to Tristram_buckley@yahoo.com. (CD sales are recorded by CD BABY and verifiable by Bar Code)

DRIVEN'S music is a combination of many genres; a reflection of the band's international background and diverse musical interests as well as a distilled blend of the great music we've all grown up with.

DRIVEN'S sound is synthesis of alternative rock, classical pop and Euro-pop with electronic loops and synths and organic orchestrations and accented by the lead's singers powerful and unparalleled voice.

ORIGINS:

The band saw its beginnings when Producer Tristram Buckley brought lead singer Chaz Ross (San Francisco), guitarist Troy MacCubbin (Australia) and keyboardist/engineer Sven Martin (Germany) together. After just one jam session we realized we'd found that elusive magic. Both Troy and Sven came to the USA in 1998-1999 to make it in the Music Biz. To support themselves, Troy and Sven scored odd jobs, including modeling jobs?! Says Troy, "It's not my thing, but spending the day with super hot babes in bikinis is not a bad way to make rent." Meanwhile, the band's lead singer, a former college football player, earns his keep and pays his bills by driving an 18 wheeler! The classical case of the artist stuck in the wrong job. But then again, true art comes from less than ideal circumstances and those endless hours driving a big rig have given Chaz the opportunity to search his soul and craft his lyrics and melodies. Its also given him that rare insight into the life of ordinary, hardworking people.

THE ALBUM

The band recorded their freshman album "202" in Sven's small bedroom in an apartment he shares with the guitarist and bass player (Domen Vajevec, from Slovenia) in Studio City ,So Cal. The combination of Chaz's mammoth vocals, layered guitar tracks using nearly every guitar imaginable (six string acoustic, 12 string, classical nylon, Dobro, Mandolin, PRS, Hamer hollowbody, etc), richly textured keyboards (Piano, Mellotron, Synths, Hammond B4, etc), Didjeridus, violins, cellos, timpani drums, chimes, flutes, plastic garbage cans, grooving bass lines and drum loops, and drums tracked by some of the world's finest drummers result in a sound that is unlike any other; familiar yet new.

DRIVEN has been influenced by the great bands of the 60s (Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, Turtles, Jimmy Hendrix, Jim Morrison, etc.) 70s (Queen, Moody Blues, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, Billy Joel), 80s (U2, Depeche Mode, Police, REM, Peter Gabriel, Eagles, Styx, Rush, Asia, Smiths, Cure, Springsteen, Genesis, Van Halen, Pat Benatar, [all Techno],etc.) and 90s (U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Counting Crows, Violent Femmes, Sound Garden, STP, Gin Blossoms, Garbage, Green Day, etc.) Perhaps Sven puts it best: "We draw upon all that we've know to create that which hasn't been heard but reflects a synthesis of musical concepts developed by the great artists over the last several decades."

Driven has spent countless hours mixing and matching parts until we get the right combinations and composition; a composition that is unlike any other. We concentrate on making songs that have melodies, grooves, hooks and great musicianship as well as powerful vocals and meaningful lyrics. These lyrics, along with the diverse instrumentation in which they are embedded, result in a unique musical statement: we call it "DRIVEN 202." DRIVEN's audience appreciates great music and great vocals. Our fan base covers two generations: from pre-teens to the forty-something crowd. There's something on DRIVEN'S album for everyone, be it a ballad like You Don't Know Me or a power pop hit like Tragedy.

DRIVEN's success may also be attributed to the unique contributions made by its members being from different backgrounds and cultures. Chaz, the singer/songwriter, lives in San Francisco, played football in college, and drives a big rig. Troy, the guitarist, grew up in the land Down Under and brings his own unique talents to Driven. Likewise, Driven's keyboardist, Sven Martin, with his European Euro-Pop/Techno-Rock background, brings additional textures to DRIVEN'S music. Add to this a bass player from Slovenia (Domen) and his European background and the killer drum tracks of Josh Freese, Nate Morton and Roman Ratej (some of the world's most in demand drummers) and you have the unique sound that is DRIVEN.

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