Mark Trone

Artist: Mark Trone
Album: Embrace the Rain
Review by Matheson Kamin

(Review excerpt)

St. Louis, Missouri songwriter Mark Trone started writing his own music after being influenced by the likes of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Brian Adams. Taking his own compositions and his ability to play various instruments, Mark Trone recorded and produced his debut album entitled Embrace the Rain.

To start his 2012 release off, Mark Trone begins with an anti-love song entitled “Lies Leave the Scars”. “Lies Leave the Scars” tells of a man finally coming to grips with the reality of his relationship. The rock ballad tempo matches well with the lyrics about discovering the lies in the words he was told during that relationship. The song features some very strong playing of Trone on the guitar as he layers the music to create a song that has a lot of depth to match up with the depth of the meaning behind the lyrics.

On the song “Just another Night,” Mark Trone creates a song that feels like it would have belonged on commercial radio back in the eighties. The first few seconds of the song seem to transport the listener back to the eighties to the days of new wave when English bands were creating a new style of rock that featured keyboards instead of guitars as the main instrument. The song quickly takes a turn to a guitar-driven style of rock ‘n’ roll with a bassline that will find many music lovers waiting to hear more of the album mainly because of this track.

With a song that may remind some of the feel of the rock classic “I Love Rock and Roll,” Trone’s song “Unoriginal” takes shots at today’s youth who try to create their own “style” by mimicking the fashions worn by musicians and celebrities. The irony of Mark Trone creating a song with that message and that title while sounding like a very famous song from many years ago may just be a weird coincidence…….but who knows?

Mark Trone slows the tempo down with the title track of the album. “Embrace the Rain” is a slow-paced song that features an acoustic approach to its music. Trading his electric guitars for acoustic ones, Trone changes the feel of the music. And while he IS playing an acoustic guitar on this track, Trone’s solo on that particular guitar proves he has complete control of his instrument as he creates a passage with as much feeling and energy as if he were creating that solo on an electric guitar.

Like the way Mark Trone creates a solid track on “Embrace the Rain” with an acoustic guitar, Trone creates perhaps the strongest track with the song “The Good Part” with an electric guitar as he once again goes for the more rockin’ feel to his music. With “The Good Part,” Trone produces another track that will satisfy those listeners who like good, solid rock ‘n’ roll music.

While “Embrace the Rain” from Mark Trone showcases his musical ability, another large part to the release is his composing side. This side of Trone’s personality is obvious when you listen to the words that are part of the thirteen tracks on Trone’s 2012 release. With songs like “I Loved You all Wrong,” and “Ghost in the Attic,” Trone takes on emotionally painful subjects of love and loss while doing so in a way that the listener will find themselves felling Trone’s pain as the album moves from track to track. The sad songs coupled with the more upbeat ones help to make this release a well-rounded one.

As it is, the album showcases Trone as a talented songwriter with strong musical and vocal abilities. Embrace the Rain from Mark Trone has many moments that listener are sure to enjoy.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5) - Matheson Kamin, Editor for The Rock And Roll Report

Embrace The Rain Album Review by Rhonda Readence

Mark Trone is a Midwestern boy, hailing from a small town in Illinois, but you’d never know it from listening to his debut album Embrace The Rain. With catchy pop beats and foot-tapping rhythms, this album is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Trone has undertaken the daunting process of writing, recording, producing and mixing the album himself, and the sound quality has not suffered for it. In fact, the sound is clean and clear throughout and the songwriting is strong.

This 13-song album is rife with contagious melodies and thoughtfully intricate lyrics. The opening track is “Lies Leave The Scars” and it is a song that most of humanity can relate to. Despite the heartbroken lyrics, the tempo is upbeat and listeners will find solace in the fact that Trone can find positivity in the midst of negativity. “Unoriginal” is one of the highlights of the album, as Trone systematically and methodically calls out several celebrities who have no real reason for being celebrities and no real claim to fame, aside from riding the coattails of famous and rich parents or using their looks to become famous with no substantial foundation. Lyrics like these are what many people would like to say themselves, and this could easily become a fan favorite.

The title track, “Embrace The Rain,” is a lovely heartfelt number with lyrics that hold a sense of freedom and peace. The graceful acoustic guitar work is the perfect compliment to the elegant vocals. The deeply introspective lyrics carry a sense of emotion, optimism and vitality. This is a song about making the best of what we have, or turning a bad situation into a good one. The message that Trone is sending out to the masses is one of hope, and listeners will gladly embrace this melodic and positive piece with open arms.

The guitar work in each song is done with exceptional skill, but on “Living The Dream,” we are treated to flowing piano work that fits Trone’s vocals well. Listening to this song, one can envision Trone performing it live to an audience that is swaying in unison and hold lighters aloft while putting their other arm around a friend. This piece offers a sense of togetherness and warmth. The vocals are strong, the piano work is wonderful, and the melodic guitar licks are the icing on the cake. “Ghost In The Attic” is another Mark Trone specialty, complete with lyrics that tell a story and exceptional musicianship. The track tends to be a bit monotonous at times, and listeners may tune out for a brief moment, but the overall essence is one of skill and talent being utilized in a more creative and artistic sense.

To summarize Mark Trone’s music would be to say that it is a light in a world that is sometimes full of darkness. Trone’s positivity is contagious, even when he is singing about pain or heartbreak. The title of the album itself is a testament to Trone’s way of thinking, and the optimism that he brings forth should be embraced by legions of listeners from all walks of life. His sophomore effort will be highly anticipated.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5) - Rhonda Readence, Contributor to Exciting City Magazine

Artist: Mark Trone
Album: Embrace The Rain
Review by Alec Cunningham

After taking a full three years to fully compile and master each aspect of this thirteen song release, singer/songwriter Mark Trone’s first commercial album entitled Embrace The Rain has been completed to his liking. In that Trone is from Illinois, it should come as no surprise that there is a slight Midwestern feel to the album. But not only does the music itself span a range of genres, the composition of the album’s songs spans also through two states. Trone began the writing and recording process in Missouri and ended it years later after moving back to his home state of Illinois.
Although he had already built up a repertoire of music, Trone decided upon taking the path of laying a blank slate and creating an entirely new bunch of songs for the album. After singing about the good and bad of relationships, the upsets as well as the life changing moments, in “Lies Leave the Scars” and “Just Another Night,” he takes an enjoyable detour with “Unoriginal”. The song takes an obvious stab at celebrities and ordinary people who attempt to imitate them in their everyday lives. He lists numerous celebrities that this woman has tried to emulate, such as Britney Spears, Rihanna, the Kardashians, and Bella from the movie Twilight. The song’s upbeat tempo and humorous lyrics make it fun and witty. Immediately after this quirky song comes the more grounded, less playful song, “Embrace the Rain”. The idea for the album’s title track originated from a trip Trone took to Costa Rica. But instead of experiencing Costa Rica’s customary sunny, beautiful weather, he endured a trip full of nonstop rain. At that point, he decided that he would need to give up on hoping for more appealing days and to instead “embrace the rain”. Staying with that same idea, this acoustic track was written as a way of encouraging listeners to look at less than opportune circumstances with a renewed perspective.
Trone confronts his own mistakes with “I Loved You All Wrong”. The song is about the selfishness and intensity that can envelop a person when they are in the midst of a relationship. He admits that a different and perhaps slower approach should have been taken, but he instead fell head over heels in an instant’s time. The story is one sided, never reflecting on her take on the relationship, which leaves hope in the listeners’ minds that she was just as in love as he was.
The album leaves off with the fitting, “The Best Is Yet To Come”. Although the song is about a relationship, he is perhaps also hinting that he has far more in store for his musical career as well. The songs on his album are all G rated at most, but he does well to throw in a few suggestive lyrics for the older crowd also. He sings, “It’s okay to wonder about the future, but the forecast has nothing to do with gloom. If you’re still uncertain that light isn’t getting brighter let’s take another trip up to my room.”
Each song is composed with one type of rhyme scheme or another, making the lyrics and melodies intertwine nicely together. His message within the album is refreshing as well. It is clear that Trone is attempting to leave a lasting impression on listeners and to connect with them on a level that is more than skin deep. This is an album that is not only full of self awareness, but one that is equally full of intuitive deliberations on the outside world.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5) - Alec Cunningham, Writer for Blank Newspaper, Knoxville, TN.

Artist: Mark Trone
Album: Embrace The Rain
Review by Matthew Forss

Mark Trone is a singer, songwriter, producer, and mixer on his first album, Embrace The Rain. The album covers the world of adult alternative rock and pop with musical nods to Bon Jovi, Barenaked Ladies, The Gufs, and David Cook. The thirteen track release is loaded with lyrical displays of ingeniousness and catchy melodies on guitar. The electric and acoustic-driven compositions are Mark’s trademarks, along with an innate ability to sing clearly and compellingly.

“Lies Leave The Scars” opens with a legato, electric guitar sound, lively percussion, and Mark’s Barenaked Ladies-esque lead vocals. The upbeat tune contains smatterings of electric guitar in the vein of The Gufs with a clear pop presence. The jaunty tune is a folk, rock, and pop composition. The bellowing guitars and jingly percussion throughout the latter half of the song signals an infectious embellishment.

“Embrace The Rain” begins with a scintillating acoustic guitar intro with soothing vocals in a ballad-esque manner. The vocals sound layered about a minute or so into the song. Meanwhile, the acoustic guitar follows the vocals with ease. There are moments when the guitar picking resembles a little flamenco, old time, or folk styles from the 1970s. The sincere guitar and vocal song is one of the best songs on the album, because it combines catchy vocals, simple guitar stylings, and a memorable chorus.

“Unoriginal” opens with a horn-driven, guitar sound that is inherent in the alternative rock musings of Def Leppard or Bon Jovi. The horn sound on the guitar comes from a legato playing technique that fuses notes together in a smooth, uninterrupted manner. The legato sounds, bass, guitar, and percussion form a type of punk music. However, Mark’s vocals are relatively clear and powerful with little in the way of negative connotations.

“Living The Dream” opens with a pensive piano solo, before Mark’s voice kicks in. A bit of percussion begins, too. An electric guitar wails in the background for a few seconds. As the chorus begins, the static sound of an electric guitar provides a more complete sound. Between guitar solos, the piano adds a delicate touch to the music. The drum-kit is not too overt throughout. The latter part of the song includes electric guitars, piano, percussion, and Mark’s ballad-driven, vocal ambiance.

“Ghost In The Attic” opens with an acoustic guitar and Mark’s sincere vocals in a folk/pop-driven vein. The song meanders slowly in a ballad vein with background strings and light percussion. A little electric guitar accompaniment occurs near the end of the song, which suggests a Southern rock tone. “Superficial People” opens with a gentle acoustic guitar, light percussion, and Mark’s pop standard vocals. A little woodblock percussion breaks up the sound. The song contains a pleasant, folk sound from the 1970s, but it is clearly rooted in modern times.

Mark Trone’s first commercial release is an adventurous trip into the world of alternative rock with rousing vocals, spirited pop rhythms, and catchy melodies. The thirteen tracks are relatively similar in instrumentation, but the melodies, rhythms, and vocals are slightly different. At times, the percussion seems a little prefabricated and unnatural, but at least it is varied throughout the album. The legato guitar techniques add a good level of complexity overall. The different electric and acoustic guitar techniques keep the album fresh. The different sound levels for vocals and instrumentation seem a little off in parts, such as the vocals recorded much louder than the surrounding instrumentation. Nevertheless, fans of contemporary alternative folk/rock music will love Mark Trone’s latest foray into the world of music. Embrace it today!

Review by Matthew Forss
Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5) - Matthew Forss, Music writer for Verge Magazine

Artist Name: Mark Trone
Album Name: Embrace The Rain
Review By: Alexa Spieler

Ready to embark on his journey throughout the music industry, singer/songwriter Mark Trone created an eclectic blend of music with his release, Embrace The Rain. The thirteen song project features a mixture of catchy pop hooks along with driving rock influences. Praising and thanking the likes of Bryan Adams and Journey for his sound’s formation, Mark Trone finds himself not only talented in the singing department, but others as well. Atop of performing on Embrace The Rain, Mark Trone took on the challenge of writing, recording, producing, and mixing the album in its entirety. The debut album, which features all original material, reflects Trone’s uniqueness and conceptually remarkable way of utilizing different genres and forming his own sound. Such skill sets are difficult to find in the music industry today, but Trone has managed to prove himself with Embrace The Rain.

The opening track, “Lies Leave The Scars” is heavily rock influenced and guitar-driven. The composition’s title reflects the narrator’s predicaments when facing someone who’s constantly hurting him with numerous lies. Singing about how difficult it’s been facing the lies, the organic vocals Trone provides ultimately steer the track. It’s within Trone’s truthful lyrics and passionate vocalization that the listener finds himself enticed into listening to more. The instrumentation remains entertaining and driving - with mostly melodic guitar leads - but ultimately isn’t the focus of the track. The instrumentation’s light vocalization diverts the attention to Trone’s vocal ability. With such honesty found within Trone’s music, it’s difficult to imagine music that isn’t as organic as his.

The refreshing honesty continues with, “Superficial People”. Only a light acoustic guitar accompanies Trone, along with a steady drum beat. The drummer doesn’t jam away on the set, but instead focuses on shining the spotlight on Trone, while maintaining a steady enough driving beat to keep the song flowing. Trone explains how he’s surrounded by a sea of superficial people and needs someone to show him the light and rescue him. Distinctly telling the story of how he’s surrounded by said people, Trone continues with his remarkable story-telling ways. Comprised of a simple melody throughout, “Superficial People” really opens up towards the coda. A minor guitar solo ensues, providing a break away from the normal consistency. A light drum break follows the guitar solo, cajoling listeners into singing along with Trone, as he repeats the memorable chorus. As interesting as the acoustic guitar solo may be and as effective as the drum sing-a-long- break may be, Trone’s lyricism draws listeners in throughout.

Changing things up, Trone distinctly distinguishes his inner rocker with, “When It’s Gone Too Far”. Utilizing his electric guitar additions, the opening riff provides a shocking turn of events. Not your stereotypical acoustic-based artist, Trone demonstrates how eclectic he can be on this song. The driving electric guitar riff energetically allows for the track to stand out, especially with the aiding of the provided drummer. The combination strays from the normal stripped-down approach and allows listeners to know Trone isn’t one-dimensional. The captivating alternation in Trone’s sound still leaves his vocals as powerful as ever, except with a heavier and more energetic sound. “When It’s Gone Too Far” immediately grabs listeners’ attention and pleases them aurally, due its shift in production and elements.

“I Loved You All Wrong” too provides a fresh sound on Embrace The Rain. It begins with a smooth, bluesy guitar rift - which isn’t expected at first glance with Trone. The melody remains relatively serene, despite the leading electric guitar. The smoothness and calmness of “I Loved You All Wrong” reflects the narrator’s take on a previous relationship conducted in the wrong manner. As the narrator’s nostalgic emotions and thoughts overwhelm the laid-back number, the electric guitar dominates it overall. Trone’s voice chimes in with desperate measures, exclaiming how he loved the ex-partner, “all wrong”. The end of the song focuses on how passionately Trone feels about how incorrectly he loved his ex-partner and overall allows for Trone’s vocals to remain the center of attention: a constant theme throughout the album.

Embrace The Rain concludes with, “The Best Is Yet To Come.” Completing the album on a high note, the composition follows the path of being heavily-guitar driven. The instrumentation provides a strong rhythm section. With perfectly timed pills and powerful cymbal crashes, the drummer opens up the song for an electrifying amount of energy. Joining forces with the energetic drumming, the guitarist doesn’t hold back. The contagious guitar leads are spot-on and provide a consistent brightness. Both emerge as powerful elements to the song, but Trone catches the audience off guard. No longer providing a simple calming method, his voice lends a sense of energy and passion to the song, which isn’t unusual for Trone. The perfect conclusion song for the album, “The Best Is Yet To Come” finishes Embrace The Rain on a positively high note, compelling listeners into singing along to the final chorus’ chanting of, “The best is yet to, the best is yet to come!”

Embrace The Rain cannot fall into one genre of music, which helps Mark Trone stand out with his debut release. Each track differs in its own way - whether it be stylistic elements or tempo changes - but one thing remains constant: Mark Trone’s passion. It may be his first release, but Embrace The Rain is a reflection of what Mark Trone has in store. The artistry and knack Trone has for story-telling will aid in him the longevity of his career. For a debut album, Embrace The Rain is certainly a success and it’ll be interesting to see how Trone builds upon such thriving potential.

Review By: Alexa Spieler
Rating: 4.5 (out of 5 stars) - Alexa Spieler, contributing writer to Substream Music Press and APM Magazine