Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24]
Swedish musician/songwriter/producer, Tommy Denander has been an integral part of the AOR/Melodic Rock scene for more than 25 years now.
He’s worked closely with countless musicians in the genre, most notably Bobby Kimball, Alice Cooper and Jimi Jamison (RIP).
And still does: Jeff Paris and Jim Jidhed handle 4 songs each on Reset, plus one with Robin McAuley and one with Joey Vana. Mutt Lange and Keith Scott, Bryan Adams’ guitar man, are involved too. Quite a lineup.
We’re expecting a lot. And any resemblance to the sound of Toto is purely deliberate.
The album is initially underwhelming, with the music tending to politeness, lacking the density and texture of the promised Toto type rock.
But that’s the man’s style. Clean, clear sounds, uncluttered. Easy to like and easy to get used to.
What stands out most is Denander’s finely honed instinct for a memorable chorus/hook. First single ‘Sentimental’s got a bit of Work Of Art going on. Jidhed teases out a sympathetic vocal on a cool chorus, underlining a sinuous hook that’s got all the pop immediacy of AOR circa 1986.
‘Shame On You’ has a similar template with a busier arrangement, working up to another simple yet catchy, carefully wrought hook.
Denander absorbed all the ideas that surrounded him over the years, especially his time in LA, which gave him a large palette to work from.
And that colour mix is eminently noticeable on ‘Gaia’ and ‘Hard Times To Fall In Love’. The first a slick, lightly polished, cheek to cheek dancefloor filler and the second reminiscent of the classy self produced albums Toto were releasing 40 years ago.
The Toto influence is even more noticeable on ‘The Lights Go Down’ and ‘Midnight Train’. Both beefier, sturdier AOR songs, of the kind you might encounter in the mid 80s US singles’ charts.
The title track is a song for today. Musically, it’s set within a big sounding keyboard/ electronica soundscape. Lyrically, it’s an ‘Imagine’ for Generation Z. Where Lennon emoted, McAuley punches out a dramatic vocal.
It’s noticeable that using only two or three vocalists provides the kind of continuity you normally get on a band album only. Lesson learned ? ***1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 19 January
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
