Tracks: Perfect World, Annie Annie, Serious Games, Darkness, I Do, All Over Now, Remember Me, Can't Say No, Techno Toccato, Simple Answer, Between Us, Home

Verdict (& Rating): 'AOR-lite' featuring one of my favourite tracks from 2002 (80%)

Brad's former band, Aviary, is not a familiar name to me and to be honest I didn't quite know that to expect from this album. Something progressive and inaccessible I guess. Maybe that is why opener, 'Perfect World', made such a huge impact on me which I first listened to the album. . It manages to be a 'perfect' mixture of pop, rock, even a bit of classical, all glued together with a chorus that reminds me more of Nirvana than anyone else. An eclectic mix, but one that really impressed me on that first listen and has continued to on subsequent listens.

A little nagging voice in my head was saying that Brad's voice and style reminded me of someone else during my first listening of the opener. During the track, Annie Annie, it clicked - Brad reminds me of Chris De Burgh. Whilst I'll admit to liking some of Chris's music, the majority of it is too middle of the road and bland for my tastes. Brad takes that style and gives it the necessary rock edge to make it more appealing.

Of the slower tracks/ballads on offer the next track, "Serious Games", is the one that shines through. The chorus just seems to soar effortlessly and carries the song along, taking it into a more mid-tempo than ballad style. Later on, "Between Us", is another ballad that shows Brad's classical piano training coming through in the song writing. You've probably already worked out that the brief "Techno Toccato" also highlights this side of Brad's music.

"All Over Now" and "Remember Me" are a couple of mid-tempo semi-acoustic tracks in the middle of the album that work well together, because "All Over Now" sets the mood, whilst "Remember Me" follows up with an extra supply of catchiness in the chorus department.

The most up-tempo track is "Darkness", which reminds of Chris De Burgh's "Don't Pay The Ferryman". However, the mid-tempo 'AOR-lite' tracks are the ones that I prefer. Another good example of this style is "Simple Answer". There is a good build up to the chorus. There is even a little classical string interlude to give an extra dimension to the track.

If I call this 'easy listening' you'll all go off with the wrong impression, so maybe 'AOR-lite' is a better description. The best track, without a question of doubt, is "Perfect World". Indeed, it is one of my favourite tracks from 2002. With the best tracks mainly at the start of the album, it gives that 'peaked to early' feeling, but yet when listening I always hang on in there until the end.