You read the bio of Canadian songwriter/composer Jeff Vidov, and you might start expecting to hear epic Neo-classical pieces. Vidov first garnered attention back in 1994 when he won SOCAN’s composer award for his orchestral piece “Awaken”. He took lessons under Pulitzer Prize winning composers, and is a talented pianist. Then again, maybe it was his time working at Sony recording studios and the MTV unplugged stage, but listening to Vidov’s modern music, and you’ll hear an artist who is incredibly adept at writing driving pop-rock anthems.
Sing-along tracks like “New York I’m Coming to You” is the kind of pop rock that made Billy Joel a household name, and also carries some positive Ben Folds energy. A song about his early days living in New York City, it shows how Vidov is able to translate his personal experiences keenly into relatable anthems. And the orchestral arrangement backing the song is perfectly understated, enhancing the track.
In fist-pumping songs like “Running in Place,” Vidov takes a cue from Springsteen, letting the drums power the song into a stadium-style rock song. The orchestral accompaniment and backing vocals make the song feel huge, and the hopeful melody spreads good vibes throughout. “State of Innocence” has the same kind of 80’s pop rock energy, with his vocals even sounding close to Bon Jovi‘s. As he sings “As long as I have grace to carry on,” you feel that same spirit of resilience that Bon Jovi painted for Tommy and Gina in “Living on a Prayer”. And “All Nite Long” is equally epic.
If any of the above sounds like music to your ears, then you should stop wasting time and start listening to Jeff Vidov‘s music. Hear a few of these masterful tracks in our Bad Ass Break-Outs Playlist:
The Indy Review 