Well, after ten long years, Tom Scholz has released a "new" Boston album called Life, Love & Hope. In the liner notes Tom complains about the current state of download music making album releases a thing of the past. He then says this latest album is ".....a difficult analog recording that could only be done for the sake of loving the music." Hmmm, lowering expectations maybe?.... The last 20 years of Boston have been a revolving door of personnel and even music styles - but still with Tom's fingerprint, although faint at times... This latest "album" is a curious collection. There are no less than 6 different vocalists including the late Brad Delp, who died in 2007. Three of the 12 cuts are re-releases (Remixed) because, "I just like this song". Ummm ok? The first tune called Heaven on Earth is exciting good old Boston, great vocals, soaring guitars, and a rocking groove. Last Day of School is an instrumental that sounds like something Malmsteen would have done back in the 80's with some great keyboard work thrown in - good stuff! THEN, get ready to take a nap. Between the re-releases and the new, very forgettable tunes with ridiculous breathy vocals - there is nothing to hold my interest. Then there is the last tune called The Way You Look Tonight. Holy crap! I WISH I could write a melody like this! This is CLASSIC Tom Scholz at his best. And then.... The tune starts out with a beautiful piano piece that sets up the song. THEN the most ridiculous sounding digital drums and some sort of teeny genie organ synth comes in and completely ruins this song. I'm sorry, I'll admit all my talent together would fit into the tip of Tom Scholz' finger - I could not shine his shoes. But this is bad. Even the vocals sound very dry in some places. The tune does come together later with fantastic soaring guitars and vocals in the typical old Scholz orchestrations of harmony and driving power chords - thankfully drowning out the drums and synth. It could have easily gone on for another 2 minutes to expand on the guitar work. Even with this foible, it is one of the best tunes on the "album". There are also some over-the-top political statements in the liner notes and some lyrics that detract from the music - but hey, this is his work, more power to ya.
Bottom line... I think Scholz is one of the most talented and innovative musicians of our time and I am a HUGE fan. Just hearing the first notes of any of his songs and you immediately know who it is. That is pretty special. I do think that he has been drifting in the past few years. Gone are the Foreplay/Longtime and Walk On guitar and keyboard extravaganzas that we all know and love, at least I do. I think Brad Delp's suicide affected him deeply. Instead of the new vocalists being front and center with the guitar, like it was in the past, they are buried and weak. There is no direction or concept to this album. Tom is playing a lot of bass and drums. That needs to stop. He needs to bring people in that play them the way they should be played - not the way a guitar and keyboard player would play them... Why? Every new song has the same tired old beat with very simple bass runs. He NEEDS to collaborate with someone. He needs to build a new band with a strong singer and he will be back on track. Unfortunately I don't think this will happen. I will go see him live if he comes to St. Louis because they are always awesome and he will have a real drummer and bass player. I'm glad I bought the CD to add to my collection, but disappointed and sad at the same time. With an average of ten years between releases, that does not bode well for change in the future.
My VERY humble opinion.
Jim
Boston - The Way You Look Tonight
Topic: New Boston Album Review (Read 6991 times)