Who is Bruce Turgon? It seems like we are asking ourselves who alot of people are that have popped up with solo albums that took us by surprise this year. Oliver Hartman and
Philip Bardowell were the first two and this Turgon release completes a trilogy of discs that are super high quality but will likely go unnoticed due to the lack of star power in the headlining name. Don't let the obscurity fool you, this is some well played melodic rock that is quite moody and atmospheric. It has an edge that nothing else this year has shown, thus making it standout amongst the ever crowding
AOR/melodic rock genre.
Now for our history lesson. Bruce has been a sidekick of Lou Gramm's since before
Foreigner had even banded together. They were in Black Sheep together in the late 60s/early 70s and throughout Gramm's post Foriegner career in the 80s, Turgon was by his side, playing bass and offering his songwriting talents. He played on Lou's solo discs, "Long, Hard Look" and "Ready or Not", was heavily involved in the process of creating the music for Shadow King, and when Rick Wills left the bassist spot vacant in
Foreigner, it was Turgon that took up the instrument and finally made his way into the ranks of the legendary band. He contributed to "Mr. Moonlight", in 1995, co-writing the single "Until the End of Time" and toured with them up until 2002.
But it was not until now that he stepped out from behind the bass and decided to take his place in front of the mic. The transition from songwriter/bassist to adding vocalist to that repertoire is an easy move, since Bruce sounds very much like a raspy Lou Gramm from his current lower register days. For cleaner, more processed
AOR type music, this could be an issue, but with the darker material on this solo outing, the grit is a perfect match.
Even though Turgon, being the multi instrumentalist he is, handles lead vocals, bass, guitars and keyboards, he still gets plenty of help from a plethora of notable musicians. Denny Carmassi (ex-Heart) is behind the skin kit and he does a fantastic job. There's nothing like having a live person behind the sticks to give the music warmth and personality that a drum machine just cannot duplicate. Three axe slingers show up to provide solos and other fills, Rocket Ritchotte, Scott McKinstry and Ronnie Montrose. Lou Gramm, Ricky Phillips and Tom Gimbel all chime in with backing vocals which help to fatten the choruses and even out the lead at times.
A generous portion of this album was intended to be part of the followup to the Shadow King's debut disc, which never materialized. The band gelled so well that they could not manage to cobble together a second disc. Therefore it sounds a great deal like a nice mixture of Shadow King and
Foreigner's "Mr. Moonlight". It falls back on that heavier hard rockin' punch that made SK a band effort and not Lou's third solo disc, but has the brooding moodiness of select tracks off of "Mr. Moonlight". Even though SK is a much beloved disc in rock circles, it never quite captured my imagination. However, the often criticized sole 90s album from
Foreigner has been a favorite since its initial unveiling. "Outside Looking In" blends the two worlds perfectly making a disc that should appeal to fans of both camps.
Highlights include
"These Tears Must Fall" which is a superb melodic rock track that puts the emphasis on being massive. The chorus just comes out of the shadows and slams you right in the gut. The song structure is impeccable, every note has purpose and feels in place. To top things off, the outro strives for uniqueness by quieting most instrumentation save for the rhythm section. Hearing Turgon's thumping bass up front and center is a treat for subwoofers everywhere as the drumming keeps time in the background. A nice touch that is often not seen on melodic type releases.
The first five songs are also of special note, opening with the catchy keyboard laden
"Living a Lie". This one sweeps you off your feet with its taste for the passionate yet powerful hard rock style, and a great chorus that kicks you in the arse
"over and over again..." "Any Other Time" has an even better chorus and is not quite as intense, taking a mellower route.
"Outside Looking In" has that rich downer atmosphere that "Mr. Moonlight" enjoyed at times. Guitar driven and powerful.
"Walk Thru Fire" begins with lacy keyboards and an unsettled feel like the quiet of a battlefield before the war, but it explodes into a huge mid tempo melodic track that somehow reminds me of
Dokken where the chorus is concerned.
"Faith" rings with raw emotion, like a dripping wound from a longing heart. Not exactly a ballad, but it is more slower paced.
"On A Wing and a Prayer" is a magnificent slice of melodic rock and this wouldn't be a proper review if this went unmentioned. The chorus is what slays and kills, being a huge affair that pulls out all the emotional stops and then some. Little glimpses of crystalline electric guitar breaking out into the spotlight add a sense of texture against the thicker rhythm riffing creating the backdrop. A very classy track all-around.
"Passion Dome" could have been a
House of Lords song and is reminiscent of their debut effort.
The only song that was just not embraced very well is
"Weapons of Love" which turns in circles but goes nowhere except to repeat itself incessantly. Overall, however, there's so much quality material packed on here that even the ones that don't fire on all cylinders are still pleasant listens and not complete wastes of time.
A powerhouse release of an
AOR disc, this is one that is not to be missed. The moodier atmosphere, coupled with the emotional rasp of Turgon's vocals and the guitar and bass abundant soundscape set it apart from many other discs. It won't just blend into your collection by being another over polished copycat. The elements that it borrows are so dusty and unused today that hearing this type of melodic rock performed comes as being a refreshing stroll on the darkside of the soul. Deep, dramatic and laden with mind numbing hooks, Bruce Turgon's "Outside Looking In" is another must purchase for fans of the
AOR genre. Don't let this one just fly under the radar.
Written by
Alanna Saturday, November 19, 2005
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