Jeff Scott Soto started his amazing career by adding vocals on Yngwie Malmsteen's debut album, while Jeff was still in his teens. Later he formed the Swedish/American hard rock band
Talisman with another former Yngwie musician Marcel Jacob.
Jeff's latest solo album "Prism" is not as technical as the music of
Talisman. Overall the music is more vocal oriented giving plenty of samples of his great vocal abilities. The album is a bit polished and commercial. Most songs sounds like they are cut for
AOR radio. Jeff Scott Soto's stunning vocals take these songs a higher level. Like the acoustic ballad
By Your Side where Jeff's amazing vocals uplifts the otherwise fragile song.
Album opener
Eyes of Love might as well be a song off the next
Talisman album. The song has a groovy rhythm and is one of few up-tempo tracks. This song really kicks ass and this song truly hits bulls-eye concerning my exclusive taste in music.
Don't Come Easy and
Till The End of Time both have grandiose choruses and are among the top tracks on this disc.
Don't Come Easy is one those songs that you keep humming for days.
Holding On has hit single written all over it. The song is a great moody song with a great keyboard accompanied by a neat guitar riff.
2 late 4 Goodbye is a song in the
Bon Jovi 80's style. A great guitar rounds off the track, but the endless repetition of the chorus is a minus.
The lyric topics are mostly love, but
Heaven Knows derives, because the song is inspired by September 11th. Even though this album is a bit softer and more vocal oriented there is still great guitar playing from Howie Simon (Tamplin). Check out the solo work on the piano driven track
Don't Wanna Say Goodbye or the excellent melodic playing on
Holding On.
I can't help comparing "Prism" with Jeff Scott Soto's work in
Talisman. "Prism" is a great album, but I do prefer a little harder edge, which "Prism" is lacking. However, there is no need to justify this disc, because it is so well played, written and performed that it is the best
AOR release of 2002. The production by Jeff himself is perfect for this
AOR/Melodic Rock style.
Album highlights: Eyes of Love, Don't Come Easy and Holding On
Written by
Michael Monday, November 11, 2002
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