Dave Baldwin - Time
Open Up Watch Me Cry You Are There Sweet Sister I Believe In Your Love I Don't Know I Am Your Dream All The Lonely People I Will Still Be There Fire In Your Eyes Gotta Get Out Time Label: Duke-N-Music Year: 1997 Producers: Dave Baldwin & Don Sternecker Total Playing Time: 50:21 m:s
Dave Baldwin is a new name to me, but he's also in a band called Tradia who've released two albums.
The first couple of times I listened to this, I wasn't impressed. But this one's a grower. So much so that when I recently compiled my list of Top 10 albums of 1997, this one was No. 6.
Back when Styx, Kansas etc were having their most successful periods I preferred my music to have a harder edge to it and as a result I missed out on some great AOR first time around. A Styx live album eventually made it's way into my vinyl collection and I've got Styx's Edge Of The Century. So why am I ranting on about Styx when I should be talking about Dave? If you read my reviews you'll notice that I'm very fond of comparisons to give the reader an idea of what to expect. Styx is what I'd compare this to style wise. But, I don't want you coming away with the impression that is merely a Styx rip-off.
Once I got into it, songs like the stark Sweet Sister, I Believe In Your Love, the dramatic pomp of I Am Your Dream, All The Lonely People and the down right catchy I Will Still Be There all made good impressions. I came close to listing practically the entire album in that sentence.
If I had to find fault with the album, then just about the only negative thing I'd say is that the final song Time comes dangerously close to being a cheesy ballad.
An album that reminds me of the type of bands that I'm sure played some part in nudging me away from metal towards the more melodic side of rock.
Rating: 8
