This is the kind of album that is a joy to review, the names Eric Martin and Jack Blades conjure up memories of some of the greatest AOR music ever written. The pedigree of Night Ranger, Damn Yankees, Mr Big and the Eric Martin Band has been at the forefront of music in the USA for many years. Tak Matsumoto is a new name to me but his talent is no less obvious. Three drummers feature on the album, Brian Tichy (Slash’s Snakepit), Cindy Blackman and touring skinsman Chris Frazier. 

Opener “Oh Japan – Our Time Is Now” sets the scene, power chording into the senses, the guitar is fresh and not overdone. It is often a criticism of mine with guitar virtuosos that albums tend to be a vehicle of their talent, not so with this, the whole concept has been built around quality songs with the incredible guitar lines adding depth and texture. “Everything Passes Away” continues with a brooding, spoken opening into a stomping track.  A good choice for a single perhaps?, do great rock bands bother with singles anymore ?.

Track 3 is “Kings For A Day”, straight ahead rock, great driving music. Without any doubt in my mind, this album is some of Eric Martins best work, rocky yet soulful. Difficult to decide what genre this CD fits into, it is without argument “Rock” but has various levels that I haven’t heard for ages, tracks like “I Know You By Heart” “I Wish You Were Here” and “The Greatest Show Earth” are big, powerful Arena Rock songs, guitar solo’s and sing-along choruses and yet there’s light and shade, “Signs Of Life” romps along, while “Red, White And Bullet Blues” has a darker bluesy quality.  

“Trapped” again is bold and brash, but compliments the more jazz/funky feel of “My Alibi”. The overall feeling with this album is that, live, each individual song has the kind of weight and depth to enthral and move an audience, non more so than “Wonderland” and “Train, Train”. 

“Two Of A Kind” is a classic ballad, very tasty Hendrix style opening building through the verse to a big chorus. It’s a ballad–by-numbers, has all the ingredients but doesn’t sound like you’ve heard it all before. The track is superb, again demonstrating the talent of the band as a whole. The album closes with “Never Goodbye”, another example of quality song writing.

Difficult to pick a stand out track from the album and equally impossible to fault it, the production quality is fantastic with the ballsy bass and drum sections setting up some stunning guitar work. Sparse, but effective use of keyboard and studio enhancements give the modern feel but the whole piece has that kind of late 80’s, early 90’s attitude about it. Which is no bad thing, easy to listen to without being easy listening, if that makes sense. According to www.ericmartin.com, it is unlikely we will see the band live outside Japan, which is a great shame. There is a big market for this kind if stuff, it is class with a capital C.

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Track List

Oh Japan Our Time Is Now
Everything Passes Away
Kings For A Day
I Know You By Heart
I Wish You Were Here
Greatest Show On Earth
Signs Of Life
red White & Bullet Blues
Trapped
My Alibi
Wonderland
Train, Train
Two of A Kind
Never Good-Bye

Line Up

Eric Martin - Lead Vocals
Jack Blades - Bass
Tak Matsumoto - Guitars
Brian Tichy - Drums