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SCORE - 94%
94%
Overall
94%Dennis De Young and Jim Peterik. One of the most brazenly honest and funny guys, who just happens to have a golden voice, together with one of the most earnest and likeable guys on this planet, who also happens to be one of rock’s greatest songwriters.
Together with the Peterik production infrastructure, the quality of this release was never in doubt right?
The only downside is there are only 9 full length songs here, with a decision made to split the productive writing and recording sessions into 2 albums. I hope the second volume maintains the high standard set here.
9 songs mean there isn’t a minute to waste. DDY brings the best of his soaring pomp Styx-like magic and JP brings his matching theatrical flair and AOR heart, ensuring that the duo achieve their aim.
There are rockers, there’s pomp, there’s a couple of spectacular ballads. Everything I was hoping of this union is right here. Proof that partnerships can’t be forced, they have to happen naturally.
Well it sure don’t have TRACES syndrome since multiple tempos are in play.
Maybe three songs are a miss for me.
Dennis DeYoung 26 East Vol 1
While I agree with the the great majority of Andrew’s review, I didn’t think the record was laid out very well. I thought the second cut, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, which is a very harsh critique of American news media, with some surprising potty mouth language, was way too high in the record structure. I’d have re-ordered the record so the tempos don’t jerk the listener back and forth so harshly:
1) East of Midnight
2) Run for the Roses
3) Kingdom Ablaze
4) Unbroken ***My favorite song on this record***
5) You My Love
6) Damn That Dream
7) With All Due Respect
8) The Promise Of This Land
9) To the Good Ole Days (featuring Julian Lennon)
10) A.D. 2020
Pros
Cons
Being a long time Styx fan I really wanted to like this album more than I did. Maybe that’s because I expected more from Dennis than what was delivered here. It had all the DeYoung trademarks but lacked the passion and drama I was hoping for. The best songs on 100 Years from now, Crossing the Rubicon & One Hundred Years From Now, outshine any of the tracks on this release and Turn Off CNN is wittier than With All Due Respect.
70%
I just dont like this album at all. There is nothing that stands out to me….