Interesting, a solo album from
Crystal Ball frontman, Mark Sweeney.
Though if you read the sleeve notes you'd easily believe that the ubiquitous
Michael Bormann deserves all the credit. Bormann produces, writes and plays most of the instruments, but surprisingly, that's all totally transparent.
No sub
Bon Jovi stadium rock here. The album sails pretty close to
Def Leppard and
The Storm (
Superman & Heaven) at times, but elsewhere the music, the songs, the arrangements navigate more of a soft rock, singer/songwriter route (
I'm Back & It Might Be Love), with the occasional detour into pop radio territory (
The Reason &. Must Be Paradise).
Opener
'Singing For You' defies easy categorisation, as does second track '
What Is Wrong With This World'. That's clearly something to be admired in a genre that loves pigeonholes and strict adherence to recognised boundaries.
Still, the album's unsure direction becomes a bit of a problem after a while.
Just when you think you've found some anchoring moment to grab onto, Sweeney and Bormann switch styles again and you find yourself floundering to understand what they're up to this time, this track.
That said, the balladic '
Together Forever' and
'Is It This' are unarguably the album's highlights. The first is sketched around a dominant piano and on the second, keyboards pick up the same role. But both resist the standard, go for the jugular, kitchen sink escalation and instead settle for sweetened strings and a whispering choir to heighten the emotional connection.
In most other songs, this commendable less is more approach doesn't work.
Coming late in the album, '
Now Or Never' is an exception. Keyboards, buzzing guitars, boyband backing vocals and a driving beat elevate this song into AOR's Premier league. But it's a case of too little, too late. Or maybe just too different.
This is one of those albums you have to mine patiently (thus the title). You'll find nuggets here and there, and each will be worth the effort. But many listeners will give up and go looking for easier pickings.
Written by
Brian Thursday, May 17, 2007
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