Talisman - Life
I've been a fan of Jeff Scott Soto ever since I heard the self titled album by a band called Eyes. JSS likes to spread himself about a bit. This is another project in which he is involved, in fact, it may well be his main one. The other main man in Talisman is bassist Marcel Jacob.
The Talisman sound is dominated by the rhythm section, which maybe isn't surprising given the influence of Marcel Jacob. The sound is driven by the bass guitar, giving some the songs a slightly funky feel at times. The guitar and vocals ride on top of this. The songs tend to be a combination of melody and power. If you like your music on the slightly heavier side of AOR then this should suit you.
The main surprise of the album is the decision to cover the Seal song 'Crazy'. Cover versions seldom improve upon the originals and rock bands giving pop songs the 'rock treatment' can come across as being a desperate bid to have a hit single. Having said that, Talisman manage to add a new dimension to song which makes it more appealing to rock fans.
Compared to the other Talisman album ('Genesis') that I own, this one is an improvement. There is more variety and individual songs are more memorable. Yet another worthwhile release by the Now & Then label.
Rating : 7
