Even before the debut record Tell Me What's New was released in 2004, there was an un-Dutch hype around the young Utrecht-based band GEM in the media. This cooled down somewhat when the final album was a little too heavily burdened by Strokes epigonism. However, the group managed to hold their own, partly due to their powerful live shows, and even made it to Top Of The Pops with the song Good To
… Know You, known from the TV commercial. The group takes a huge step forward on the second album Escapades. GEM is very passionate about twelve melodic rock 'n'roll songs dominated by screeching guitars (including Good To Know You). Singer Maurits Westerik seems to have found his own voice, melodic, powerful and always with a raw edge. He also has a good feeling for catchy choruses such as in The Subterranean Parade and Strangers In The Night. With Escapades, GEM has surpassed every form of epigonism. (MR)more
