AORDREAMZONES MAGAZINE United Kingdom www.aordreamzones.com

CHARLIE SOUZA - LIVE YOUR DREAM//9 BALL IN THE CORNER POCKET (Souzaphone Records) 
 

Over the years, Charlie Souza has worked with many famed artists and put out his own records in the time to, his albums tend to be how can I say, more mature based pop/rock than the AOR treasures of Fortress, but the songs still show a melodic edge and are quite good.

'Live Your Dream' was put out in 2000 and starts with the title track 'Live Your Dream' . This is a fantastic catchy West Coast pop/rock flavored number, this reminds me a little of Tom Petty and Mark Spiro and is a brilliant song. The power pop/rock of 'State Of My Heart' reminds me of Robin Trower and is very catchy with strong guitars and vocals, even a little Rick Springfield in there. 'Don't Cry Wolf' is high tech power pop reminds me of Robert Palmer whilst 'Find Our Way Home' is a looser track like Tom Petty, it's actually quite melodic, very good song. 'Queen Of My Dreams' is another good track, this is very catchy pop/rock with dreamy melodies and some nice keyboards. 

'The Rose' is a gorgeous ballad and 'Flyin' Away' complete with it's bird sounds is a more jazzy experimental song, sophisticated like Robin Trower. 'Hold On' is a funky catchy tune again making me think of artists like Robert Palmer. This is a actually a very catchy song, with a big chorus. 'Dark Night' is a big blues based rocker that smolders, again like Robin Trower and also The Jeff Healey Band. I didn't enjoy 'Dreamline', I found this song to strange and boring, the last song 'Mystic Mistress' is a lively affair, a solid catchy pop/rocker and addictive chorus. "Live Your Dreams" is a good album and shows that Souza can still perform some great songs. 

A year later Souza released his next album "9 Ball In The Corner Pocket". 'New York City Dreams is funky jazzy swinging pop that would not have sounded out of place on the Bruce Willis album "The Return Of Bruno", not my sort of thing though. Most of the album goes for this jazzy style, there are some rockers like the excellent 'Lightinin' Bolt' and '24 Hours A Day', which are the standout track here with the latter reminding me of Henry Lee Summer. This is definitely amore mature album which I couldn't get to grips with, so if you want to check out Souza's solo material best to try "Live Your Dream" first.

Let's hope that we can tempt Charlie Souza to reform Fortress and make a new album, now that would be a good move. check out www.cdbaby.com and www.charliesouza.com for more information. 

Nicky Baldrian

 

FORTRESS - HANDS IN THE TILL   (Souzaphone Records) 
 

Fans of Journey and pure melodic AOR pay attention!! The classic Fortress record from 1981 called "Hands In The Till" which was originally released by Atlantic, is now available to you on CD for the first time. Fortress is based around the talents of bassist Charlie Souza who has worked with the likes of Tom Petty. The rest of the band comprises of singer Jim West (who sang on the debut Ambrosia LP), drummer Donny Vosburgh and guitarist Eric Turner.

'Hands In The Till' is the first track, and oh boy oh boy is this what AOR/melodic rock is made of or what? This song reminds me of Shooting Star, Journey and Sammy Hagar. Jim West is so much like Steve Perry and this song could have been on any Journey album before "Escape", the guitars are heavy and melodic and the keyboards grace this song, it's got a little boogie that gives the song a Kansas edge. 

More of the same can be heard on the very addictive driving anthem 'How Do I Exist', there is some very cool vocals and power drumming on this song.. 'Comin' After You' is another fantastic melodic rocker, the guitars remind me of Eddie Van Halen, vocals are again like Steve Perry and the song is very catchy and pure melodic rock. 'Requiem' rocks, the guitars are quite chunky and the sound is pure early 80's AOR, again like Journey, Shooting Star and also Touch. The chorus is superb layered with fantastic vocal harmonies, this is one of the best songs and allot of fun to listen to. 

'Kisses' is a laid back melodic dreamy ballad, whilst the Journey styles are evident again on 'Let's Do It Again' which could have been on "Infinity" and is fantastic melodic AOR. 'Breakin' Free' is a faster melodic rocker and a good song with tons of hot guitar work. 'Carry Me Back' is a more simpler pure melodic rocker again reminding me of Shooting Star and Touch, even though the vocals on this track get allot like Tommy Shaw.AOR fans will love 'Back On The Path' which a fantastic pure AOR track which is like Survivor and the last song 'Mystery' is once again fantastic Journey inspired melodic pompy AOR. 

What is amazing about this album is that it truly stands up today so do yourselves a favor pop along to Charlie Souza's website or onto CD Baby and grab yourself a copy of this classic album a.s.a.p. 

Nicky Baldrian 


CLAY AIKEN - THE MEASURE OF A MAN (RCA) 

 

American Idol second place winner Clay AIken has made an blinding album that could very well see the rebirth of AOR as this album with please fans of the genre, as well as the teenie boppers and housewives of the world. I had to question whether I should review this album or not given those factor, but you know what I don't care if thousands of teeny bopping teenage girls or ageing housewives love him because you simply cannot ignore the quality of the songs and more importantly Aiken's vocals, he has that voice, and he also has the team behind him which includes songwriters like Aldo Nova, Desmond Child, Cliff Magness etc all of which are praised by the majority of AOR and melodic rock fans, and at the end of the day, a song is a song and if you like then whose to argue?

The CD kicks off with the irresistible 'Invisible' (written by Desmond Child), this song is a lush pop/rocker, catchy chorus that almost reaches the AOR standards of Mitch Malloy, in fact Aiken's sounds allot like Mitch Malloy on this track with hint of Job Bon Jovi and Stan Bush, this is a very good song, and if it was any of the aforementioned artists recording this song you would be loving the shit out of it. 'I Will Carry You' (produced by Cliff Magness) is a gorgeous song, this is a flowing dreamy ballad, very AOR/pop, Clay's voice is very good and he could easily be the new AOR god as he proves on the next track which is called 'The Way' this is another ballad that could have been on Mitch Malloy's "Ceilings And Walls" album or any Steve Perry or Richard Marx album, it's a gorgeous ballad, it's quite poppy and Clay sounds allot like Malloy vocally, only a little more laid back. 

'When You Say You Love Me' is a safe but catchy pop song that makes me think of Desmond Child's "Discipline" album, whilst 'No More Sad Songs' (produced by Cliff Magness) is a huge ballad. again Aiken's voice makes me think of Mitch Malloy, the chorus is very melodic and this one of the best songs on the album, a very mature ballad. 'Run To Me' is a massive ballad that could be considered an AOR ballad, it's lush and the chorus is very catchy, this could have been one of those ballads on Journey's "Trial By Fire" 'Shine' flows with Beatles influenced melodies crossed with a modern pop injection and is a very good song that grows with each listen, simple and effective and blows the likes of Robbie Williams into oblivion. 'I Survived You' again produced by Cliff Magness features some nice Latin guitars, again it's a ballad and has a similar feel to Bon Jovi's 'Always' crossed with Avril Lavigne, lovely chorus on this song. 'This Is The Night' (written by Aldo Nova) was another favorite song, this is a lush ballad once again, Clay's voice soars and again he reminds me of Desmond Child and Mitch Malloy and this is a glorious ballad, it's sickening how much like these guys Clay sounds, especially Malloy, Malloy could have easily sung this song, definitely another of the CD's best songs

Back

HOME. . . . . . . Copyright © 2003 By CHARLIE SOUZA • All Rights Reserved . . . . . . .