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Line-up:
Robbie
La Blanc - Vocals, Rhythm Guitars
Brian La Blanc - Bass, Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals, Percussion,
Organ, Keyboards
Butch Taylor - Lead Guitar
Jeff Batter - Keyboards, Organ, Piano
Kyle Woodring - Drums
Tracklist:
1.
Here’s
To You
2. Edge Of The World
3. We’ll
Make The Best Of It
4. Stranger To Love
5. Turn This World Around
6. It’s
Little Too Late
7. Staying Power
8. Where Do I Go From Here
9. Beneath This Heart
10. Pray For Me
11. Sorry For The Heartache
12. We Will Rise
Website:
Check
also:
Surprise Of June 2005
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Well those two brothers, Robbie and Brain La Blanc, have decided to drive
us crazy! Although the guys are experienced on recordings and giving
live gigs, they have never present a solo work (except from Fury in
the mid-80s)... till now! I do not know if I can say it right... but
this is probably the best AOR album of 2005 and one of the best AOR
album of the last years! Just take some elements from Survivor,
Foreigner, Pride Of Lions, Signal, Mr. Mister, Journey and
Boston
, mix ‘em together and you
have Blanc Faces!
The album opens with the impressive rocker
“Here’s To You” and you start understanding that you are
listening to a very good album. “Edge Of The World” is an AOR
classic song that you can see that Foreigner’s spirit is still alive!
An excellent song with a strong refrain and a very good performance by
Robbie. “We’ll Make The Best Of It” is again a mid-tempo
fantastic AOR song with a nice verse and a very good refrain. The 80s
AOR lovers will love this song. “Stranger To Love” is the first
ballad of the album and you can easily call this song one of the best
touching ballads of the year. A very smart orchestration and an
excellent performance by Robbie again. “Turn This World Around” is
another good rocker ala Foreigner/Survivor. “It’s A Little Too
Late” is probably my beloved song from this album but again I cannot
easily separate a song from this outstanding album. An emotional semi-ballad
with a catchy refrain and an excellent atmosphere. “Staying Power”
is another good rocker and you get the same feeling again... you think
that you are listening to Lou Gramm every now and then. “Where Do I
Go From Here” is an atmospheric AOR tune which has a nice chorus.
“Beneath This Heart” is a rocker ala Survivor/Pride Of Lions with
a touch of Lou Gramm on the vocals. A very strong rock track. “Pray
For Me” is a moving ballad which once again has a very good
orchestration and a very good chorus. For sure one of the best songs
of the album. We go on with “Sorry For The Heartache” which surely
has a Pride Of Lions touch on it... good 80s AOR up tempo song. The
last song of the album “We Will Rise” is a classic AOR song, but
not one of my beloved songs from the album. As for the production...
what more can I say? It is crystal clear... nothing more or less.
Having said that, you know that this is an album
that no true 80s rock lover should miss. Maybe it’s not as good as
my beloved “Pride Of Lions”, but according to my opinion is better
than “
Mecca
”...
and in the very end it’s hard to find so good, inspired, well-written
and well-produced AOR album in our days. Whether you try it or not...
you will get it anyway!
by Thanos Aggelakis 9/10 | 