The new single release for Australian band Taste is called Stand Up and it comes after their 2008 album Rock Is Dead. Taste is a very well-respected rock band that has achieved some amazing things during their career. When they were in their teens they signed to Warner Bros (the youngest act signed by them) and released two albums and a series of top ten singles including Tickle Your Fancy, Little Romance and Boys Will Be Boys, which was adopted by Queen in their warm-up music before their shows. Taste went on to share the stage with Queen and was requested by the band to join them on a US tour. Since that time Taste has maintained a devoted fan base and after one listen to Stand Up you’ll know why. The song is a big tune, a passionate stadium-sized track that is as inspiring as it is moving. There are some great melodic lines here, with the chorus an ultra-catchy blend of pop, rock and contemporary sounds. It’s a foot-stomper with heart, focusing on self-determination and personal grit. Vocalist Ken Murdoch knows how to wrench all the meaning from the lyric, which many will relate to, with a broad dynamic range at his disposal he manages to steer the track to great heights. The instrumentation is also noteworthy, with effective use of evocative guitar lines and a prudent approach to the drums, the stops and starts allowing the song’s momentum to build. This record is a clever amalgamation of a myriad of styles the band is best known for: the foundational elements of pop and rock, with a hint of glam which signposts their distinguished past. There is every chance that Stand Up will get a lot of attention from commercial radio and streaming playlists, and not only for the song’s timely arrival but for the fact that it’s an instantly memorable piece of highly satisfying music.
Vince Leigh for theaussieword.com