AllMusic - Rating: 4.5 stars
Home This Year
From the opening bars of "Home This Year," which titles and kicks off Virginia Coalition's fifth album, it's clear the band has progressed into rich new musical pastures. With the track's insistent, yearning refrain of "Gotta get home this year," the group sets the stage for a set filled with reflective songs and introspective moods. Gone are the high-energy performances and exhilarating sounds that were the Coalition's signature and reached an apex on their preceding album, Live at the 9:30 Club, while their penchant for fusing genres is deliberately muted. Instead, the bandmembers throw the spotlight on their songwriting, notably tightening the structures, and giving prominence to ambience and emotion. Songs like the star-crossed "Not Scared," glittering with acoustic guitars and delicate keyboards, waft into singer/songwriter territory, while the more grandiose "Same Page" has all the makings of a power ballad classic. "Santa Fe" evokes the soft rock stylings of the '70s, and with Jarrett Nicolay's banjo gently twanging away, brings to mind the likes of Poco. On the upbeat "Stars Align," his cheery playing is counterpointed by keyboardist Paul Ottinger's best champagne styling, like an Appalachian dinner club. So, the Coalition haven't entirely deserted their flair for fusion. The quietly infectious "Lately," for instance, hints at orchestral grandeur, while folding in a tinge of '60s soul. The band's soul stylings are further illuminated on "Look My Way," juxtaposed against an adamant rhythm and billowing electric keyboards. The entire set is lit with a quiet optimism and a sparkling sound. With the uplifting "Sing Along" destined for single status, the even more anthemic "Same Page" and infectious "Home This Year" deserve to follow. The Coalition come home to their earliest roots, and one hopes they'll stay there forever. – Jo-Ann Greene
Paste Magazine
Home This Year
Irony takes a holiday on the blandly reassuring Home This Year, making a decade of operation for the good guys in Virginia Coalition. Fronted by sensitive-yet-manly singer Andrew Poliakoff, the group crafts catchy tunes to soothe the stresses of these anxious times, combining emo melodies and lyrics brimming with greeting card sentimentality. Graced by Paul Ottinger's elegant piano fills. "I Got This One" finds Poliakoff playing the former "king of what not to do", rescued from misery by true love. Given proper exposure, stadium-friendly anthem "Sing Along" could be a massive hit – it's easy to picture adoring throngs swaying back and forth as Poliakoff belts out the irresistible chorus. Stray snatches of mandolin and banjo, not to mention the sexy R&B organ licks of "Look My Way", hint at an abandoned, less-predictable version of Virginia Coalition, one they should seriously consider revisiting. - Jon Young
GUITAR DIGEST
VIRGINIA COALITION – HOME THIS YEAR
By RME
The three-piece (core member) band from Alexandria, Virginia, VACO is unique in the fact that all three members can play just about every instrument they collectively use. Not to be confused with the political movement bearing the same name, the material is real-life based and not confrontational. The group used collaborative players for the first time on this CD, which is their fifth release.
This is an easy to listen to offering. Throughout the disc, it's easy to draw some comparison of the qualities that have worked for John Mayer, Fleetwood Mac, Loggins & Messina, and Bruce Hornsby. The title song is a catchy song about major reasons to come back home from the road. Piano led songs like Same Page and I Got This One have a good combination of writing and overall presence. Songs like Lately and Look My Way are ideal TV show or movie intro or backdrop songs.
You may have already caught them at a venue. The band has toured extensively supporting a lot of the big names in the industry like The Dave Mathews Band. Different songs with different vibes make up this release. From song one through song 10, it's laid back and easy to follow!
