Jeff Scott Soto
Lost In Translation
Frontiers/Locomotive Music
Jeff Scott Soto has kicked around the melodic rock community for awhile now. His voice has been heard not only with Yngwie J. Malmsteen, but with Soul Sirkus, Talisman, Takara and Eyes, to name just a few. He’s appeared on every tribute album imaginable, and has also demoed music for many other great artists like Zakk Wylde and Axel Rudi Pell. He’s also put out several solo albums. Throughout all this recording, he’s never really broken through as much more than an also-ran. He’s most known for his work with Malmsteen, and is certainly not the kind of singer you would name if asked to name your top 5 singers.
Having lived with Lost In Translation for about a year now, this is not a hard release to review. In fact, it’s quite easy. Lost In Translation is, without question, the best thing Jeff Scott Soto has put his voice to in his career. It won’t get him a lot of credit because a lot of people won’t hear it, but fans of good, rock n’ roll with moving vocals and well thought out material will love this. Even though this was recorded as a pre-cursor to Soul Sirkus’ World Play, it sets the tone for what that album became as well. Lost In Translation is a fun, addictive listen.
The latest release in the JSS catalog has a little bit of everything you look for in an AOR-type rock record. It has moments with a harder edged rock groove, ballads, and songs that fall in between the two. When it comes to rockers, songs like “Drowning” or “Believe In Me” kick it up with the best of them. Soto has a clean vocal that adds just a touch of edge to it on the heavier tracks. The resulting sound is very much an 80s throwback vocal vibe, but without the dated musical accompaniment. Soto, for his part, shines brightest on Lost In Translation when he takes the mood down. His ballads on this release are reminiscent of both Journey and Bon Jovi throughout. “If This Is The End” could easily fit on a mix CD next to “Faithfully” and Bon Jovi’s “Always”, while the piano driven “Beginning 2 End” could easily stand in as a request on one of those “Love Zone” late night radio programs as a sappy thank you for a lifelong commitment to marriage.
Article comments
1 - Matt
Chris--This work of yours now has another venue for success - and more eyes - at the Advance.net Web sites, a place affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
Also please let your contact know, if you had one, that this article, is published at one more place. That helps a lot.
Thank you.
Matt Freelove
2 - Gary
You will be pleased to hear that Jeff was featured on November 5th 2006 on BBC6 Bruce Dickinsons show and again on BBC Radio 2 on September 27th 2007 yesterday:)))On the Masters of Rock. Perhaps we will hear more of Jeff nationally in the future and about time too! Maybe someone at last is pushing Jeff's stuff in the right direction.