Los Angeles features singer Michele Luppi and bass player/producer Fabrizio Grossi. Michele sang with Italian Progressive Metal band Vision Divine and Melodic Metal band Killing Touch. Los Angeles was created as an outlet for his AOR/Melodic Rock interests. The band released a self titled album in 2007. On this second album the reliance on outside songerwriters has been cut back with Luppi & Grossi collaborating on a number of the tracks with contributions from some of the other musicians such as guitarists Joey Sykes and Robero Priori and keyboard player Eric Ragno. Completing the lineup we have got Tommy Denander on guitars and Tony Morra on drums.
The main reason for this album and the star of the show are the enthusiastic vocals of Michele, even though he 'over eggs' it occasionally. For example, on the opening and title track you are left with the impression that he is trying just too hard to make an immediate impression. As the album goes on I must get used it as I don't notice it as much. With the musicians involved the playing is excellent, as expected.
This is one of the those albums that sounds good when you are listening to it, and has you wondering why you don't listen to it that often. The songs on here, which include a cover of Richard Marx's "Nothing To Hide", are all decent, and reading my review notes I don't have any negative comments. It just lacks that couple of really killer tracks to stick in your mind so that the album grabs a regular slot on your playlist.
