This is an incredibly good guitar album, that has one thing missing from so many, actual songs. Schenker seems to be loving the stripped-down environment of this release, and proving if necessary, that he is the talent we all know him to be. Despite all his eccentricities and unpredictability he can pump out a damn good tune when he wants to. Shows off Barden’s vocal talent as a bargain.
This might not be the normal heavy rock that you expect from MSG or his time with UFO, Scorpions, or any of his other tenures. You should not discount it as anything but a great album from the German guitar maestro. Melody and acoustic ethos combine for something really quite special. I highly recommend you seek this effort out for your collection.
Jimi Jamison: Crossroads Moment
Ok, let's start with the final track. “When Rock was King” name checks some of the biggest AOR bands of the 80s and for good measure some of their lead vocalists show up to have a sing-song. It's one of those things that should be cheesy in extremis, but works really well. Don Barnes, Mike Reno, Mickey Thomas, Dave Bickler, Joe Lynn Turner, and Thom Griffin appear on this CD. Oh yes, and just to add to the uber-cred his ole’ mucker from Survivor, Jim Peterik is with him for this ride.
And, yes, it sounds like Surviror in its prime. How could it not? There is alll the melodic pomp you could ask for here, but rather than just doing it by the numbers as you find on many releases of this sort, it's done with oodles of class. Peterik’s handiwork is all over this on tracks like “Make me a Believer” and everything else.
It's quite obvious why this pair were so incredibly successful when they were both in Survivor. The music on here is recognizable yet new at the same time. There is something refreshing to hear something this good from such a class pair. A new standard for melodic pop rock has been set for the 00s and this is it.
DVD Review
Return to Forever: Returns: Live at Montreux 2008
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