FEB '07 ISSUE

Backstage Pass
By: Christopher Gotzen-Berg

ZO2
"Ain't It Beautiful"
(Splivey Cool Entertainment)

If you think for a second that hard-hitting, cutting-edge rock and roll is dead, then you haven't heard ZO2! Ain't It Beautiful is just what the doctor ordered, delivering track after track of masterfully crafted rock perfection in a way only ZO2 could provide.

Nothing is better than hearing a band letting their roots shine through and taking those influences to another level. "She Believes" brings to mind memories of Soundgarden, and "I Don't Mind" has a tinge of Stone Temple Pilots mixed with Alice In Chains, but both tracks are 100 percent ZO2! On the other hand, you will find the Aerosmith-laden "If You See Kay" - can you say versatility?

The absolute best part for me was the resurrection of the long lost rock art: the hook! The only bad thing I could say about Ain't It Beautiful is that like all great thinbgs, the disc eventually comes to an end, so don't forget to press the repeat button on your stereo. We have discovered a new element and it's Zo2. For more information visit www.ZO2.com.