Michael Thompson Band is back with its brand new opus entitled "Love And Beyond" through Frontiers Music. Michael Thompson's debut record, "How Long", was released back in 1988 (reissued in 2007 with three bonus tracks) and it's still considered as one of the best samples of pure AOR/west coast high tech releases from that era.
In "How Long", Michael Thompson collaborated with an amazing list of guest musicians such as Terry Bozzio, singer Moon Calhoun (ex The Strand), Pat Torpey (Mr Big), bassist Jimmy Haslip, John Elefante (Kansas), Toto's Bobby Kimball, and Great White associates Michael Lardie and Wyn Davis (who also produced the album). Songwriters would include, among others, AOR luminaries such as Jeff Paris, Mark Spiro, Billy Trudel and Brett Walker.
Michael Thompson is a very talented and gifted musician. He was awarded the "Distinguished Alumni" award from Berklee College of Music for his contributions to the music industry. Berklee's program for the event noted that "he is widely regarded as being among the elite studio session players, and his amazing list of credits includes such prominent names as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, 'N Sync, Toni Braxton, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, the Scorpions, Vince Neil, Christina Aguilera, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, Bette Midler, Madonna, Babyface, En Vogue, Gloria Estefan, Stanley Clarke and Ricky Martin."
The new album features, apart from Michael Thompson, Wyn Davis (who is responsible for the mix), Mark Spiro (songwriting and appearing on vocals), Larry King and Larry Antonino. In "Love And Beyond" we find, also, Guy Allison, Sergio Gonzalez and Tim Pedersen.
The whole release is an AOR/Melodic Rock orgasm and features amazing tracks that bring back memories from the golden era of the melodic rock scene. Songs like "Love And Beyond", "Save Yourself", the fantastic bluesier "Supersonic", "Don't Look Down", "Far Away" with its breathtaking guitar work, the edgier "Love Was Never Blind" and the Winger-esque"Stardust" are all great samples of a music genius that is called Michael Thompson. "Love And Beyond" is a record that if you love the classic and guitar-driven AOR/West Coast, then you must add it to your collection.
Rating : 8,8/10
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