Jimmy Waldo & Steven Rosen - Voices from the Past

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In the beginning of this review, I must say to the readers that I’m sorry for not putting the band’s musician names on the list, but it’s huge in a way that I lost 20 minutes writing and couldn’t end, so it’s better to focus on the music of “Voices from the Past”, this project that unites songs composed by the two masterminds of it: Jimmy Waldo (the famous keyboardist who plays on GRAHAM BONNETT BAND and passed by names as ALCATRAZZ and VINNIE VINCENT INVASION) and Steven Rosen. And it’s the best part, of course.

It’s a double CD package, with 33 songs that bears the old and good atmosphere from Melodic Rock/Hard Rock from L.A. scene from the 80’s. All songs are amazing, bearing very good choruses and musical arrangements, in a way that this album would be a striking hit on the parades on the 80’s, and would be considered one of the top 10 albums of the year. No, I’m not kidding, because the songs are amazing, and along with this you have the presence of known musicians as Jeff Scott Soto, Jamie St. James, Steve Plunkett, Tommy Thayer, Paul Shortino, and others, but the huge number of musicians turned the work of writing all of it made me leave it for you all. These words are enough to explain what this album bears. The production was done by Jimmy and Steven, and obviously we have a great and strong sound, modern and clean in a way that it will never give you the feeling that this genre of music is old (no mold here). But it’s heavy and melodic in the right proportions, and fine instrumental tunes were chosen.

Well, I admit: I wrote the shortest paragraphs I could, because I have to write for, at least, half of the album’s songs. And there are 33 of them, but no panic: all of them are truly excellent. But “(Ain’t No Honor) Among Thieves”, the excellent rhythm of “Ice” (come on, it’s Jeff Scott Soto on vocals, so you can be sure it’s a great song), the charming feeling of “City of Angels” and “Ricochet” (both bearing a very good dose of energy), the tender arrangements presented on “I Wish You Heaven” and on “Second Nature” (this last one a very good ballad), the catchy keyboards and guitars on “Baby You’re the Blood”, and the accessible harmonies of “When It Was a Game”, These ones from the disc 1.

On the disc 2, the best ones are: “Talking to Myself” (a fine AOR scent comes from it due its Pop influences, and what excellent vocals), “(Don’t Give Up) On Me” (another one with Pop/AOR influences, and accessible in a way that it would be a success on radios on the 80's), the charming Country touch on the raw “Tough Enough (Second Version)”, the “put-the-house-down” song “Toys Night Out”, the amazing catchy melodies of “Blow the Beast” (half a touching and tender almost ballad, half an charming Rock song) and of “Hold the Night”, the striking power of “The Other Side”, the purely Pop Rock aesthetics of “Thinking is a Dangerous Game”, the bittersweet AOR/Hard Glam song “Fire Burns Twice” (once more: it’s Paul Shortino on vocals, so you can bet that it’s an amazing song) and of “Death of a Kiss”.

It's an excellent release, indeed, but it really demands a long time to hear. But “Voices from the Past” deserves your time.

Originality: 9
Songwriting: 10
Memorability: 10
Production: 10