Shelter Records (Release date 30.09.22)
Only a year after releasing his last album. ‘Limitless’, Richard Marx is back with perhaps his most ambitious work yet. The very title suggests that despite a solo career which made him one of the biggest selling artists of the late eighties and early nineties, especially in America, the career as a writer of songs that has ensured his longevity is what defines him.
As if to show off, this not a conventional album, consisting of four sides, respectively badged pop, rock, country and ballads. Impressive co-writing credits suggest a man who the whole music industry- across several generations- enjoys working with, while two of his sons also chip in.
Though that pleasant voice is still crystal clear, the quintet of pop songs may surprise old-school Marxists, sparsely arranged with little guitar but employing modern pop production techniques.
It may lead to some cynicism in some quarters that this man as associated with the eighties as his former mullet hairstyle is now getting ‘down with the kids’, but the songwriting shines through particularly on ‘Only A Memory’ and ‘Moscow Calling’ where a big, up-tempo hook is enhanced by string samples.
Naturally the rock side is more guitar heavy as the snarling ‘Shame on You’ opens with crashing powerchords and ‘Not Alone’ is another out and out rocker while ‘One More Yesterday’, written with Chris Daughtry, is mid tempo but with brilliant melodies. As with the pop selection he has embraced the contemporary production values currently being deployed by the newer generation of mainly Scandinavian acts, and wouldn’t it be nice if Jon Bon Jovi could have taken a leaf out of his book?
The quintet of songs that form the country side are the strongest for me and the most natural fit. Country is an unnecessary pigeonhole for some quality songs that straddle pop and rock and are seldom overly ’twangy’. ‘Everything I Got’ has bluesy guitar and a muscular swagger- again something Bryan Adams should be doing now, but doesn’t.
The bright and sunny ‘Breaking My Heart’ is quite simply classic peak period Richard Marx. ‘Misery Loves Company’ is more countryish while ‘One Day Longer’ is excellent, the fact it is a co write with Keith Urban giving the biggest musical clue to the direction of this side. ‘We Had It All’ is rocky with the chiming melodies of U2 who he cited as one of his favourites at the recent Union Chapel London gig.
Even though they have provided him with his biggest hits, the fourth side of ballads holds less interest for me. Though the fact the first one, ‘Always’, was written with Burt Bacharach, shows the esteem in which he is held by songsmiths from different generation. Sparse with piano and occasional strings and acoustic guitar, they show the art of the songwriter stripped to its most naked: however the effect of five ballads in a row makes for a very one-paced and downbeat end to the album.
In fact the format of stacking similar songs together does not make for the easiest listening in terms of flow and it may well be an album which people playlist and cherry pick their favourite styles from.
But whether a genuine solo album or showcasing a portfolio of songs that others might wish to cover, one thing is for sure. To call it ‘Songwriter’ is not a vainglorious boast from this master craftsman. ****
Review by Andy Nathan
Gig review (October 2022)
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09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
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