COLD PLANET: News

Cold Planet announced today the launch of its second album, “Life on Mars,” a ten song album offering a variety of sounds, fusing blues-driven hard rock with 70’s soul, 80s pop and 60s acid rock. The album is now available via the band’s website and at myspace.com/coldplanetmusic.

The album, according to the band, differs from the band’s debut, “Sweet Machine,” in its scope of sounds. “The album is a little more adventurous sonically,” said singer/guitarist Michael Burke. “Whereas ‘Sweet Machine’ was a bit more of a straight ahead rock album, this one is a bit more of a trip. Soul and R&B has always been an influence of mine, personally, and it comes through a bit more with this album.”

The album’s title track, “Life on Mars,” takes listeners on an imaginary trip through the solar system in a Grateful Dead sort of way, as the band’s mascot, Tweeter, explains why he thinks his home planet of Mars is the best place in the galaxy. The album nose dives straight to hell with “Hazy Day Blues” and then straight up to heaven with tunes like “Beautiful Flower” and “You Shine.” To top it off, funky rockers like “So Groovy,” “Sunshine Girl” and “Mercy Me” offer tight, danceable grooves.

What’s next for Cold Planet? “We’re working on our next album,” said bassist J.D. Chilton. “We haven’t chosen a title yet, but all the songs are written. Sonically, it will be a bit of a departure from the first two albums, but in a way that we think our fans will appreciate. There’s going to be a bit more melody in this one.”

It’s still very rock though, and very much Cold Planet, band members reassure us. But folks will have to wait until 2012, because they’re “not rushing” this one.

Lately the Janeen Leah song "Fallen," originally released in 2005, has enjoyed something of a resurgence, being used as the soundtrack for several amateur YouTube videos based on "Twilight." The videos have been such a hit, in fact, that they have spawned rumors that the song is actually being considered for the upcoming "Twilight" sequel.

Cold Planet fans, however, may recognize something familiar about the song, which features lead guitar work by Michael Burke.

In fact, Burke's lead guitar work is featured throughout Janeen Leah's "Time is Never Wasted" album, which also features critically acclaimed musicians such as David Espinosa and Keven Brennan.

"I remember that on that particular one I played the solo clean - no distortion," said Burke. "That was different for me, but I think it worked quite well for the song."

Burke also believes the song would work well for the new film.

"I think the vibe would be great for that kind of film," he says. "It's dark and ethereal, but still rocks."

March 1, 2009 San Francisco based rock band Cold Planet announced today the release of its debut album, “Sweet Machine.” The album could be considered ‘classic rock’ for the new century as it puts a fresh stamp on the style that pioneered hard rock that emerged in the late 60s and early 70s. The album features a mix of straight ahead rockers, funky jams, ballads, and blues, laced with intricate guitar work throughout.

What makes this album different from other rock music on the scene right now? Primarily the fact that it is, above all else, fun, according to guitarist/singer Michael Burke.

“It seems like, since the 90s, hard rock music has turned into some kind of a therapy session where everyone talks about their dysfunctions and problems,” said Burke. “This album is for people who work hard at real jobs and, at the end of the day, need an escape – need to rock out a bit and have some fun. To paraphrase one of rock’s greatest band, we salute those folks with this album.”

Listening to the album, one can’t help but notice a road-trip theme throughout, as evidenced in the not-so-subtle “Highway of Freedom,” a yearning “Misty Mountain Haze,” as well as “California Blues” – which Burke insists should be titled L.A. Blues, but it “just didn’t sing right.” And of course, the album’s title track “Sweet Machine,” which sings the praises of everyman’s dream car.

The album, however, takes numerous departures from the road, including the sci-fi rocker “The Odyssey,” as well as the apocalyptic “City of the Damned” and “Lightning in a Clear Blue Sky.”

An interesting bit of trivia: “Sweet Machine” was originally selected as the band’s name, but dropped in favor of Cold Planet when the band discovered that a German band had already selected the name.