Album Review: Ballas Hough Band – BHB

It seems every reality tv personality thinks they cross into full-on movie/tv/music star mode (you listening Jo De La Rosa?).  So what could Joe Music expect from two good-looking dancers, fronting a 5-person band, with instruments no less?  The odds were not in their favor that this would be an enjoyable experience.  Originally named “Almost Amy”, they changed their name in 2008, taking on the personages of Mark Ballas and Derek Hough, both of Dancing With the Stars fame.  Well, Joe Music was very pleasantly surprised.

The album is a pop-rock blend, which does help to set them apart from the usual route of plying for the pre-teen/teen audience.  A little harder edge, with some decent vocals and even some Justin Timberlake-like affectations make it really easy to get into the songs.  You imagine that they (Mark and Derek) could really tear up the music video charts if they get a great choreographer to boot (alas, right now they are strictly doing concert-like stuff.  Blech). 

The title track is somewhat plodding, with lyrics that you’d expect from a freshman singer-songwriter, which makes the fact that Kara Dio Guardi helped right it either puzzling or logical, depending upon how you feel about her., “Do You Love Me” is a good start out of the block, with a heavy rock influence, followed by “Devastated”, a track that makes you believe that they have alot of promise though it does remind you a little of the boy bands (which reminds me, what does Emily Grace doing here?  Anyone?)  Joe Music hearts “Birthday”, with it’s syncopatic beat and falsetto.  It’s a risk that pays off very well.  And while many albums peter out after the first 3-4 radio hits, Bhb continues with “Together Faraway” and the emotional “Underwater”.

It remains to be seen if this is a flash-in-the-pan, and whether their vocal and instrument skills hold up in public, but right now Joe Music likes what he hears and has to say it’s the best album from a non-traditional singer or group in a long time.