Description
One Big Sky is the debut album by the American melodic hard rock band Novella, released on StarSong Records in 1991. The album was recorded by Plinky Giglio at Omega Mix Recording Studios in Fanwood and Trax East in South River, New Jersey; and was produced by Plinky with band member Jonathan Pagano co-producing. Mixed by Plinky with Pagano at Trax East. Novella features Jonathan Pagano on lead vocals, guitar, and keyboards, Steve Paul on guitar and backing vocals, and a rhythm section consisting of Jon Spinola on bass and vocals and Adam Gibson on drums, with Plinky sitting in on keyboards on a couple of tracks on the album.
Ever since the release of its song «Running Home» on Pure Metal’s ‘The Axemen‘ album a couple of years ago, much of the Christian pop metal world has been anticipating this full-length debut by New Jersey’s Novella. Fans of Journey will appreciate the clean, melodic sounds of Novella’s music, primarily due to vocalist Jonathan Pagano’s similarities to Steve Perry.
A new version of «Running Home» shows up here, with a little more polish than its predecessor, yet features less keyboards. Most of the album features excellent melodic songs, but a few surprises show up: like the classic intro to the lead-off track «Do We Just Surrender?»; the neo-fusion riff in the title track; and the Delta blues strains that begin the hard rockin’ «Lay It On Me». The material on this album is so good that to name the highlights would be to name about every song. A few jump right out, though: «Fire Eyes», a passionate tune that keeps building and building in emotion with each chorus; the beautiful ballad «Whispers in the Night»; the semi-heavy rocker «Who Are We to Say» with some fiery guitar leads; and «Sweet Rising Sun» which displays Pagano’s vocals wonderfully, with carried notes and phrases
Most of the lyrics tug at the heart, which, coupled with this music, deliver a strong emotional impact: “When your heart is weighing down, lay it on me” («Lay It On Me»). “I need you/ Oh God, you are everything to me/ Deep inside give me hope/ Take my pride” («I Need You»).
Fans of White Heart would do well to check this project out. ‘One Big Sky’ is one big impressive debut album! [Doug Van Pelt, CCM, May 1991]
Let me start by saying that this is one BIG debut project for Star Song/Pure Metal Productions’ Novella! With the release of ‘One Big Sky’ this hard rockin’ New Jersey trio achieves the level of lyrical and musical maturity many other commercial hard rock bands reach after several releases.
What sets this album apart from typical debut releases is its strong consistency throughout. There’s really not a bad song in the bunch. From the powerful rhythm of drummer Adam Gibson and bassist Jon Spinola, to the excellent guitar work and impressive vocals of Jonathan Pagano, Novella is a band that strives to blend their individual influences into one unique sound. This is infectious, commercial hard rock in the vein of Giant, with just a shade of Def Leppard’s MTV ballads. The best indication of this “infectiousness” is found in the albums first single, «Give Me Love», which will have you singing along with Pagano by song’s end and leave you convinced that you knew the song before you ever heard it. That’s the genius behind this album. It sounds current and familiar, yet its not obviously derivative. Other standout cuts include: «Lay It On Me», the album opener «Do We Just Surrender?» and «Running Home», which previously appeared on Pure Metal’s ‘Axemen‘ compilation.
Novella means “a story” and to quote the band’s bio sheet, “It seems to me that there is much more to come from these three guys, and that their story hasn’t yet really begun to be written.” If Novella continues forward with the fresh, clean, commercial hard rock style found on ‘One Big Sky’, they just may become the band Christian rock and metal fans have been waiting for to take MTV by storm. [Ross Cluver, Harvest Rock Syndicate, Issue 2, 1991 (Volume 6)]
> Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/79CyVHyiQLGeckLrhXi1tI)
CD tracklist:
01. Do We Just Surrender
02. Running Home
03. Fire Eyes
04. I Need You
05. Whispers In The Night
06. Give Me Love
07. Lay It On Me
08. Who Are We To Say
09. Sweet Rising Sun
10. Big Sky
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by StarSong Records.
“Give Me Love”, Live in Concert
AREA 312 Rock & Metal Vodcast. Ep 12 (Recording Date: Oct 16, 2021): Jonathan Pagano Interview! (NOVELLA)
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