Roxbox - Roxbox | ||
Tracks:
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Album Cover: ![[Image]](../../Images/roxbox1.jpg) |
Label: Blue World Records Producers: Marc Engeran Year: 1997 Total Playing Time: 44:16 m:s Review date: 5 June 1999 |
| Web site: www.blueworldrecords.com
Email: | ||
| Rating: 8.0 | ||
| Verdict: A very acceptable slice of 80's style AOR that pays homage to Steve Perry & Co. | ||
| On the first listen "Going Nowhere" gave me a hint, but it wasn't until "Too Young" that it hit me. Journey! Following in the traditional of bands like Strangeways, The Storm and Frontline, Roxbox have a go at re-creating the heyday of the Godfathers Of AOR. It isn't just the music, Marc Engeran's vocals echo the mannerisms of Steve Perry, whilst guitarist Randy Settoon has definitely been listening to Neal Schon. "Anytime" confirms it. It's a semi-ballad of the type perfected by Journey. Roxbox seem to be equally at ease with this style of material. "It's Time To Get Back" could be the Journey-men themselves. And so the album continues with a mixture of rockers ["How Many Roses", "Out Of The Blue"], mid-tempo tunes ["Stop Waiting For The Moment", "What's The Reason"], and ballads ["We Can Make It Last Forever", "Patiently"]. OK, so the motivation behind making an album that so closely resembles the material of another act is always going to be open to debate - homage or rip-off - it's a fine line. Journey devotees will really enjoy this. Ignoring the similarity, how does the album stand up in it's own right? It qualifies as a very acceptable slice of radio-friendly (80's radio) AOR. One of my favorite albums at the moment is Strangeways - Greatest Bits. If I get around to reviewing it, it is heading for a rating somewhere around the 9 mark. If I'm prepared to accept the similaity to Journey on Stangeways material why was I marking down Roxbox for sounding too much like Journey. So the rating has crept up to 8 which is a better reflection of what Roxbox have to offer. | ||
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