Joe Lynn Turner Holy Man Review
JOE LYNN TURNER -Holy Man
MTM Music 2000
http://www.joelynnturner.com/
Mr.Turner struggled on his own for long to deliver the goods and finally he's done it, the most strong album of his solo career. Listening to Joe's albums one by one, one will define his signatures, so liken it to RAINBOW, if you will - there are jokingly familiar riffs, as in "Midnight In Tokyo" or mighty "Babylon" - but Joe was quite as equal part of the band as Ritchie. And "No Salvation" is a kicker of higher octane than "Death Alley Driver" it's a continuation of. The race is on, as man himself once put it, with solid support on most of the tracks from keyboardist Paul Morris and bassist Greg Smith, the two Blackmore took off Turner's band in 1995, and drummer Kenny Kramme. Akira Kajiyama proves an excellent guitar player and his soloing's really good, though not very deep. That somehow adds to the edgy production, heavy soulful "Holy Man" and funky "Something New" the best examples of, female backing here isn't as akward as on RAINBOW's "Power" - this touch of gospel being one of Turner's said signatures, so obvious in "Freedom's Wings". Singer has his stamp even on "Love Is Blind", the only song he wasn't involved in writing.
Contrary to his previous offerings, Joe manages to keep you up until the end, singing with confidence and ease, still vulnerable in ballads like "Anything" after all these years, yet pouring a blues in for exquisite "Angel". Blues always felt something Joe had a spot for and in Joe Bonamassa he found a suitable guitarist to switch to darker mode with "Wolves At The Door" and "Honest Crime" - but Turner seems "Too Blue To Sing The Blues" to end it all with "Closer", which would be a too banal AOR finale. Joe gives his all in the last shot, back to FANDANGO groovy rock'n'roll, a hollering holy man - is there anything better?
MTM Music 2000
http://www.joelynnturner.com/
Mr.Turner struggled on his own for long to deliver the goods and finally he's done it, the most strong album of his solo career. Listening to Joe's albums one by one, one will define his signatures, so liken it to RAINBOW, if you will - there are jokingly familiar riffs, as in "Midnight In Tokyo" or mighty "Babylon" - but Joe was quite as equal part of the band as Ritchie. And "No Salvation" is a kicker of higher octane than "Death Alley Driver" it's a continuation of. The race is on, as man himself once put it, with solid support on most of the tracks from keyboardist Paul Morris and bassist Greg Smith, the two Blackmore took off Turner's band in 1995, and drummer Kenny Kramme. Akira Kajiyama proves an excellent guitar player and his soloing's really good, though not very deep. That somehow adds to the edgy production, heavy soulful "Holy Man" and funky "Something New" the best examples of, female backing here isn't as akward as on RAINBOW's "Power" - this touch of gospel being one of Turner's said signatures, so obvious in "Freedom's Wings". Singer has his stamp even on "Love Is Blind", the only song he wasn't involved in writing.
Contrary to his previous offerings, Joe manages to keep you up until the end, singing with confidence and ease, still vulnerable in ballads like "Anything" after all these years, yet pouring a blues in for exquisite "Angel". Blues always felt something Joe had a spot for and in Joe Bonamassa he found a suitable guitarist to switch to darker mode with "Wolves At The Door" and "Honest Crime" - but Turner seems "Too Blue To Sing The Blues" to end it all with "Closer", which would be a too banal AOR finale. Joe gives his all in the last shot, back to FANDANGO groovy rock'n'roll, a hollering holy man - is there anything better?
posted by System Admin at 12:55 AM
