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Frontiers [Release date: 09.12.22]
Tommy DeCarlo, the singer who joined Boston in 2007, after being discovered on MySpace by Tom Scholz, is now on his second “solo” album for Frontiers.
The current iteration of his studio band includes, on guitar, Producer/ Musician, David Julian, who’s opened for Bon Jovi, The Black Crowes, The GooGoo Dolls and other major acts. Also on guitar, Martin Jepsen Andersen has recorded with George Clinton and David Reece. He adds a heavier tone to the mix.
No surprise to learn that the production is handled by the ubiquitous Frontiers’ gatekeeper, Alessandro DelVecchio. He also plays bass and keys.
Julian and Andersen accurately mimic Scholz’s sophisticated yet incredibly accessible guitar sound all the way through Dancing In The Moonlight. The sound that Boston created was heavier perhaps than people remember – it was the late seventies after all – here it is mirrored by DelVecchio’s production, lightened and brightened by DeCarlo’s own engaging vocal style.
There’s a fair bit of autobiographical philosophising on Dancing… From the catchy, life affirming ‘Life is Just a Game’ – “catch your dreams, don’t be afraid” spiced up by a ripe slice of Rockman soloing in the song’s middle section; To the initially downbeat ballad, ‘The Hands Of Fate’, where DeCarlo pours his heart out, always with one eye on the rainbow and the reward at the end, underpinned by Andersen’s sweetly sympathetic axework.
‘Spread Your Wings And Fly’ makes most impact, emphatically confirming that a thread of humanism runs through De Carlo’s lyrics. Like he always remembers being plucked from Home Depot 15 years ago.
Elsewhere, the theatrical rock of ‘Change Our Fate’ nods respectfully to Denis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw and Styx, another pioneer melodic rock startup from the seventies.
Once again, on the romantic, understated drama, ‘Beyond Forever’ and the chest beating, heart rending ‘This Road Will Lead You’, Decarlo’s vocals are powerful and convincing. Perhaps even moreso on ‘No Surrender’, arguably the album standout.
Dancing In The Moonlight is a huge improvement over his anaemic debut. Perhaps only now is DeCarlo realising his true potential. ***
Review by Brian McGowan
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