Music review: Boston — ‘Life, Love & Hope’
More than 10 years in making, just another band out of Boston strives to recapture the signature sound that propelled them up the record charts during the 1970s.
Boston无毛视频檚 first album since the tragic passing of lead singer Brad Delp in 2007, titled 无毛视频淟ife, Love & Hope,无毛视频� is once again spearheaded by founding member and lead guitarist Tom Scholz.
Scholz无毛视频檚 guitar wizardry and mastery of layering vocals and smooth harmonies launched Boston into the limelight with the band无毛视频檚 debut release in 1976. Recognized as one of the best-selling albums of all-time, the self-titled album remains one of my personal favorites. I fondly recall purchasing it on 8-track tape with my weekly allowance. Yes, I am that old.
Every tune sweetly oozed of classic rock as the album went on to sell 17 million copies in the United States. I无毛视频檒l always remember the hypnotic guitar beginning of the opening track with Delp singing, 无毛视频淚 looked out this morning and the sun was gone.无毛视频�
无毛视频淟ife, Love & Hope无毛视频� opens promisingly with 无毛视频淗eaven on Earth无毛视频� emulating the infectious vibe of 无毛视频淢ore Than a Feeling.无毛视频�
Unfortunately, the good feelings fade swiftly as much of the album falls victim to mediocrity.
A variety of lead singers attempted to fill the vocal void left by Delp, giving the material a lack of consistency and substance. Delp无毛视频檚 vocals are included on the previously unreleased 无毛视频淪ail Away.无毛视频� The retrospective song about Hurricane Katrina is yet another haunting reminder of how much the band misses Delp无毛视频檚 distinctive voice.
Scholz even joins the singing carousel with a performance on the pedestrian 无毛视频淟ove Got Away.无毛视频� The gifted guitarist redeems himself on the electrifying instrumental 无毛视频淟ast Day of School.无毛视频� While there are a few bright spots on the album, poor production quality plagues the overall sound.
It无毛视频檚 hard to understand why Scholz, a perfectionist and audiophile, would release an album with inferior sound quality. Boston无毛视频檚 sixth album may feature the familiar image of the spaceship guitar on the cover, but what无毛视频檚 inside is only a feeble imitation of the band无毛视频檚 previous offerings.
Just like the 8-track tape, Boston无毛视频檚 classic sound appears to be a thing of the past.