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Recent
Reviews Older Reviews |
Of course, Mitch Malloy released one of the true classic
albums of 1990: his self-titled debut. This was followed by an album that
had him go in a more Michael Bolton-ish style (Ceilings & Walls). Fans
were disappointed and Malloy disappeared from the scene for a while. A few
years later he tried to resurface with a country album (My House) and a
demo. This irked his fans even more. Still, Malloy’s voice and sense of
melody can be heard and appreciated on each of his releases and, if it
matters to anyone at all, his country albums and Ceilings and Walls get
more play time on my player than the debut does. When it was announced that Mitch would be returning to his
melodic rock roots, many skeptic eyebrows were raised. Yet, with Shine,
Mitch Malloy has proved that he has the Midas touch: everything he touches
turns to gold. The songs on this album range from full-throttle rockers to
country-tinged mid-tempo tunes to power ballads. Even though the unrivaled
gem here is “When I Try,” there are more than a handful of highlights.
On the harder side of things, “It’s About Love” and “You Lift
Me” are as pure melodic rock bliss as you can get these days. On the
more mellow side, “Draw the Line” displays a western melody with a
powerful vocal delivery, but remains grounded enough to still appeal to
rock fans. His poppier, more modern rock approach to a few songs
(“Another Road,” for instance) may even prick the ears of a few
“outsiders,” if such songs ever get the chance to travel that far. Oddly enough, the only two songs that don’t really do it
for me are both remakes of songs Mitch had recorded on his country demo
from 1995: “Love Made a Liar Out Me” and “Places Only Love Can
Go.” Simply, they fail to live up to the immediate sense of emotion the
country versions elicited, especially the latter. Fans of Malloy’s first album who don’t mind a few country references here and there should be quite pleased. The production is not as sharp as his other albums, yet the muddy mix doesn’t interfere with the enjoyment of this album.
Well, there isn’t a whole lot to say about this release.
Either you will appreciate it or you won’t. Like Father, Like Sons is a
live performance of the Nelson brothers paying tribute to their dad, Ricky
Nelson. The album is comprised of 12 classic Ricky Nelson songs and a live
version of the Nelsons’ “Just Once More.” I believe this collection will be enjoyed most by those of us
who were able to experience one of these concerts. The raw energy and
emotion these guys put into their performance was breathtaking and
tantalizing. Mathew Nelson, who handles all lead vocals, sounds so much
like his dad it’s eerie, in a very good way. Highlights include “I’m Walkin,’” the classic
“Hello Mary Lou” and “Just once More.” The prophetic “Garden
Party,” which can be applied to the Nelsons’ own career, is yet
another highlight, which brought the house down when I saw them play it
live back in June. The harmonies are, as usual, impeccable, while the
instrumentalization is sharp and tight. Production is crisp, as all instruments are clear and
well-balanced with the vocals. All in all, a very nice sounding album that
will please Ricky Nelson and Nelson fans alike – but it requires an open
mind and an appreciation for where this is coming from. ----Released in 2000 by Stone Canyon Records | Tracklist: Stood Up, Waitin’ In School, Milk Cow Blues, My Bucket’s Got a Hole In It, I’m Walkin,’ Fools Rush In, Travelin’ Man, Hello Mary Lou, Garden Party, I Got a Feelin,’ I Believe What You Say, It’s Late, Just Once More
Tour de Force’s third album, Unreleased, is a scorcher of
an album. Melodic anthem after melodic anthem, the album delivers on all
levels. “Stand Up” is the perfect choice for an opening song, as
it establishes the mood of the album and gives us a glimpse of what’s to
come. The keyboard melody line is infectious and should please fans of
both AOR and pomp rock. “All Night Long,” “On My Way,” “Diana,” and
“City Nights” all follow in the same vein: catchy verses and choruses
that simply hook you with their sense of melody. Still, I find the band
most endearing and original when they let the keyboards lead the way, as
in “Lies,” “Back to Basics” and “On the Edge,” which is
nothing short of melodic rock perfection. The slower songs, “Roads” and “Take My Love” are a
bit more generic, but despite this, the album manages to carry its mood
from beginning to end, without really missing a beat. Sure, there are a couple of bumps along the way, but for the
most part, Tour the Force have produced a modern rock masterpiece that
should appeal to most listeners. Production is not as sharp as it could
be, plus it sounds a bit dated, but that has more to do with the style the
band plays than a bad production job. Highly recommended. ----Released in 2000 by Kivel Records | Tracklist: Stand Up, All Nite Long, On My Way, Diana, Over N’ Over, City Nites, Roads, Can’ Change, Lies, Take My Love, Back to Basics, Can’t Wait and On the Edge |
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