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Artist: Brian Howe |
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The name of Brian
Howe is almost legendary in the world of Melodic Hard Rock, from
appearance on Ted Nugent’s 'Penetrator' album to his formative years as
the replacement for Paul Rodgers in Bad Company. It's been some
thirteen years since Howe’s debut solo release ‘Tangled in Blue' (later renamed 'Touch' in Europe),
and now he’s back with his superb new album ‘Circus Bar’, an album
that is a melodic rock lovers wet dream. Howe
shows he’s still got the voice that can shake up the Melodic Rock
crowd, as the album gets off to a stunning start with the quite fittingly
titled ‘I’m Back’, which reminds us all just what a great voice
Howe has. The
album is full of great up-tempo and slower future Melodic classics as it
continues with ‘Life’s Mystery’, perhaps not quite as up-tempo as it predecessor,
but still a very emotive slice of gentle rock that just flows really
really well. Then it’s a couple of my favourites off the album, first up
the rocker ‘There’s This Girl’, a touch of class that has a great
sing a long chorus, then it’s ‘Could Have Been You’, with a more up and
down feel to it. An almost Tom Petty styled rocker. This
very impressive album continues with the excellent ballad
‘Surrounded’, once again highlighting Howe’s brilliant vocals to
the listener. The tempo is picked up just a touch with ‘Flying’ and I
mean just a touch, before the pure melodic gold of ‘How It Could Have
Been’. 'My
Town' sees the legendary Pat Travers laying down the guitar parts on
this song, as things really get rockin’ on this one. Next up are
the first
of two Bad Company remakes, 'How ‘Bout That’, which shows Howe was
the right man to fill Rodgers shoes. This new recording of the classic
is just superb as is the original, but more of that later. If
I had to pick a favourite off the album then it would have to be
‘Feels Like I’m Coming Home’, a great track that just oozes class
from every chord and lyrically it's a real gem. A close second would have to be
the solid ball of rock that is ‘If You Want Trouble’. If you want a
song to get you in the mood for a Saturday night then this good time
rocker is the one for you, big licks and an even bigger chorus, great
stuff. It’s back down to earth with the gentle refrain
that is ‘Feelings’, a song that sets us up nicely for the album closer
and the second of the Bad Company remakes, the excellent ‘Holy Water’.
I just love this new version of the classic, it seems to have so much more about
it and what a great way to end what is a great come back album.
Let's hope it's
not another thirteen years till the next one. |
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Tracklisting: 1.
I'm Back |
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