The Franke & the Knockouts trilogy has been in the want-list for almost every eighties AOR collector. The three albums were in vinyl only and now Escape give us the chance to enhance Franke's sound with the digital format. "Below the Belt" (1982) is the second album of the reissue after "Makin' the Point" (1984) out for some months now, so it won't take long for the debut to be released.
This record is a little bit weaker than "Makin' the Point" but it's still a very good album, I dare to say it's a softer too. However, "Never Had it Better" and "Shakedown" have what it takes and are good AOR tracks. I also enjoy the Toto-esque "Gina" which contains really catchy chorus and the amazing "Any Way That You Want Me". "Have No Fear" and "Morning Sun" are really fluffy tracks and probably the ones that have worse stood the test of time. The record ends with a bonus track not included in the original release: "Every Little Bit Helps". It's a very mellow pop/soul tune. Nothing to kill for but a nice addition anyway.
I guess a lot of people is happy with this reissue, in fact, I am. Actually, I recommend to pick the three of them when they are definetly out. A great price of nostalgia.

Ex-Praying Mantis vocalist Mark Thompson-Smith introduces his first solo release with recordings from his years in New Jersey were he teamed-up with the likes of Mike Walsh (Departure, Message) and David Rosenthal (Red Dawn, Billy Joel). The songs were written between 1988 and 1993 and the style is American nineties AOR in the vein of Message's latest effort (maybe Mike Walsh has something to do with this). With this record it happens the same that with Talk of the Town "Reach for the Sky". It contains some great tunes but the sorroundings are simply forgettable. "Wait for You", the fantastic "Lay Down Your Guns" of "Destiny" are very good mindblowing AOR tunes. "Personality" is a rather fine tune sounding like David Lee Roth. The same Diamond Dave-influence is repeated with less success in the poor "Boys Are Missing Out". Also in the downs side we find the bluesy "Old Fashion Love" or the hardrocker "Yours Truly". The album ends with a beautiful instrumental piece called "Joyride" which sees Mr. Walsh dealing his ace with an amazing amount of dexterity. For me, he has been one of the nicest surprises this year and with this record climbs even higher in my list of top guitarrists. Fantastic job Mike!
The disc gets a few more points for the great production and the virtuosism of the whole playing. Some exellent songs but too many weak moments. If this had been a more balanced album...

Stan Bush returns under the Barrage moniker. Well, for me this is basically his 6th solo record because only 3 out of ten tracks have a band behind them, and sometimes this is to blame because drum programming does not make any justice to the wonderful tunes that form "Heaven".
Some of the songs have been formerly written by Stan to other bands like opener "Hard to Find an Easy way" originally in Brett Walker "Nevertheless" or "Didn't I" that found its way in the last Baton Rouge opus, though, both tracks are receiving a more AOR approach than the original versions. This album sees Stan returning to a harder sound than the rather laid back solo sound (hence the use of Barrage?) as it could be heard in "Promises" which features Rocket Ritchotte (Barrage original guitarrist) plus virtuosos Brett Tuggle (DLR, Whitesnake) and Gregg Bissonette (Joe Satriani). The are also softer moments like the great ballad "Begginer's Luck" or the mid-tempo "Love Don't come Easy". Several tunes fit in the guitar-driven-AOR-with-eighties-melodies category, "Joanna" and "Dreamin'", which features a superb hook-infested arena-rock refrain, are some of the examples of this.
Almost every tune here is a highlight so every AOR fan should grab a copy right now. Fantastic American Melodic rock full with high-class compositions. Great album.

Rokbox is a newcomer American duo that sees to have the lessons learnt on how to write a good tune. Basically, Journey has been its main teacher, specially in the guitars, though this act adds a melodic rock dose over it that mades the results harder and with more edge. The uptempo rocker "Going Nowhere" is a great kick-off. Then comes one of the best songs of the record the AORish "Too Young". Those who were (like me!) amused by Sweden's Street Talk debut will find this as impressive or even more. "Anytime" is a mid-tempo with a great use of guitars and good chorus and "How Many Roses" is just bombastic. One of the things I have liked most of this release is the elegance both in the playing and the composition, every note seems always to be in the right place, like it couldn't have been done in any other way. Each song adds more fuel to the fire and there is no hidding place when these melodies infiltrate your brain. There are also a couple of fantastic piano-driven ballads in a Steve Perry vein "We Can Make It Last Forever" and "Patiently" both being great tunes, just listen to the bridge and chorus of the latter and voila! you are in AOR heaven.
This record was released last year and I am still wondering why it hasn't caused the stir it deserves. Late is better than never, discover a fantastic act and his excellent debut opus. You will be pleasently surprised.

Powerful, catchy AOR is what Norwegian four-piece Hush is all about. Just listen to the opener track "Talk to Me" Van Halen guitars mixed with Bad English melodies.The second tune "Babe" is another great exercise of harmony with great chorus. "Believe" is Bon Jovi ("Keep the Faith" era) meets Message's second album kind of AOR. The hardrocker "Piece of the Action" is one of the fillers which are the main reason why this record isn't getting a 90% mark, in this same category we find the not-really-memorable "Gagged an' Bound" or "Get Ready" that are in a Whitesnake's "Slide It In" vein. But this record contains more highlights than fillers. As an evidence of this we have tracks like "Let It Rain", a ballad a la Journey or Hugo but without the high-piched vocals of the aforementioned gods, or the arena-AOR midtempo "Heaven Ain't That Far Away" which could have been into Nelson's debut.
In my opinion, Hush are one of this year's biggest debut albums along with Stun Leer and Steelhouse Lane. Classic AOR sound for a not-to-miss new act.

This is the re-issue (that includes two extra new tracks) of the debut by Scandinavian melodic rock band Vision. The vocal duties are carried by Conny Lind (Amaze Me, Talk of the Town...) and the guitars by the leader of the band: Lars Eric Mattson who has also released his latest solo album ("Obsession") in 1998. This disc contains all the elements that have built the Scando unique sound: classical-trained guitars, great keyboard arrangements and singalong choruses. Vision follows a more AOResque vein that Lars E. Mattsson's solo outcomes, and to name a few "Making Love in a Dream", "All Over Now" or the amazing "Round & Round" are in-your-face melodic rock. The only fault I can find is that all the tunes contain similar patterns and sound.
What about the two extra tracks? They both follow the same vein as the rest of the tracks and are quite good. The first one, the rocker "Fields of No Return" has a hell of catchy chorus and the second "I Will Be There" is a mid-tempo with an breathtaking in-crescendo guitar work by Lars.
If you didn't grabbed a copy when it was originally released (like me!), you will find Vision's re-issue a more than worth buying album filled with pure Scandinavian melodic rock. If are a fan of the Finnish guitarrist and you are thinking of buying it, I must say that the two bonus tracks are more than good.

Rick Monroe is an American artist. And for sure American rock roots have shaped his music. His debut album "Legends Dinner" is a great copilation of guitar-driven, introspective tunes that blend rythm' n' blues with pop/rock melodies. Opener "Legends Dinner" and "Can't Get Blood from a Stone" have a sound closer to the Southern rock of 38 Special or even the Black Crowes. This album is really well performed by musicians like Keith Howland (Chicago) or the studio drummer Matt Laug, but I honestly think this record won't appeal standard AOR fans. Of course, that's nothing bad, Rick didn't intended to do an AOR record, so if you are open for other styles this is an album you will enjoy. Specially this is recomendable for mid-west and country-rock fans out there. "Day by Day", the first single and a beautiful acoustic ballad, is the highlight here. "Barbie's Got a Jones" is a slow-tempo track in a Railbirds vein with some great lyrics. "Don't Let My Heart Down" is filled with country arrangements and like the wonderful "Runaway" has a very folk feel into it.
As I said before this album is a great slice of the North American music, and a great choice for the rootsier rock fans. If you need more info on this release check out Rick's site: http://www.rickmonroe.com/

New Jersey outfit Heavens Edge is back with this their second release. Several years after the more than fine selftitled debut, "Some Other Place, Some Other Time" sees the act not moving from the path of power Melodic Rock, so those amused by the first album will find this sophomore effort a quite logical follow-up.
From the opener uptempo "Steady Rock" you have the sensation to go 10 years back. Also one of the things that are easily listenable from the very begginig are the great guitars and solos that could be heard in this record. All the tunes are straightforward melodic hard , and if that should be great for some of you, I would complaint about the fact that 75% of the tracks just follow very similar writting patterns. "Call My Name" is a great AOR-sounding track and "Backseat Driver" is nothing memorable but kicks your ass with an incredible solo.
For me, this record isn't as great as the debut. The production is really solid and some tunes are great but this record misses of some more catchy moments, although there's no doubt that if you are a fan of Melodic guitar-driven hardrock influence by acts like Firehouse or Giant you will enjoy Heavens Edge comeback.

Swedish westcoasters Promotion released last year this record that was finally distributed by AOR HEAVEN. Chicago fans must no doubt a single minute because this record is going to fully satisfy their needs. Here, we can find some really great westcoast tunes like opener "One in a Million" or the delightful ballad "After All" which is one my favourite tunes here with a fanastic bridge and hooky chorus. Also the ballad "Make a Turn" smells Cetera all over. I must say that the sound and the production here are superb and every tune has received the right arrangements and even some of the tracks get a sharp edge (for example the AOR tune"Higher Love") not really ususal in Westcoast releases. There are not really bad songs but surely "Wanted Dead or Alive", "Rollercoaster Ride" or the Champlin-esque jazzy-penned "Tomorow" doesn't reach as high as the rest of the songs.
All in all, "Not for Sale" is a wonderful release for Westcoast fans with both great sound and good Chicago-like tunes.

AOR Heaven, being along with Point Music the label releasing this cd, quoted "this material needs 2-3 listens to infiltrate your brain" but I must me easily influentiable because from the first minute or so I began to realize this was going to be great. Balance Of Power, which gained critical acclaim with their debut in 1997, return with this second release and with a new vocalist: Lance King who sings in a quite high tone and adds to the overall sound a more epic feel. This is sort of Ten, Letter X, Stratovarius and Guils Of Ages all in one... and that is spectacular melodic rock, bound to earn easy cash in Japan. The playing is powerful, guitars rule in six or seven minute tracks but there are also keyboards (played by Ivan Gunn) and, man, the sound of the band with that dose of key is fantastic. There are 9 tracks, being one of them the intro "Desert Of Lost Souls", so we get 8 songs that follow the same style and the same lyrical content concerning war, political power, massive destruction weapons, political conspiracy... in fact I would say that this is a sort of conceptual album. I can't really underline my favourites. "Walking On Top of the World" is a great tune with Lance showing his vocal abilities. But next one, the titletrack, is even greater. "When Heaven Calls Your Name" has a slow tempo acoustic-driven verse but then the thing gets harder and burst into a very good hookline. I must point that this record is hard but also melodic and catchy moments are spread all over. "It's Not Over" is a hook infested power-AOR tune and once again the spectacular keyboard arrangements raises it higher and higher. The end of the record, with "Miracles And Dreams" and "Stranger Days" is not so great as the beggining but good enough to not consider them filler tracks.
Power, melody an attitude, even the right look... this band deserves big things and "Book Of Secrets" should be the foundations of the success they will have, no doubt of it.