Well, this really...nice, pleasant would be another good word as would smooth or laid back would be a useful phrase. Yep, the first album from Sweden's Sonic Station does what it says on the tin as the record company describe it as a new Westcoast AOR project in the same vein as Toto, Mr Mister and Journey. There may well be similarities especially with the first couple of bands mentioned but at no point does anyone threaten to shred like Neal Schon has been known to do on occasion.
As this review was written shortly after the death of Whitney Houston it may well be slightly ironic that one of the main criticisms I have of Sonic Station is that in places it is a little bland much like much of Ms Houston's work and nowhere is this exemplified better than on the final track "Reasons" which really cries out for someone to really give the song some oomph like Houston or even Aguilera or yikes Mariah Carey - anything to give the record a sense of passion beyond the tastefulness of the entire thing.
There is more than a little to like about this record but as it went on and as I listened to it more I just wanted something more urgent than what was on offer on most tracks.
Track Listing:
- Intro
- Love's Gonna Show The Way (Feat. Magnus Bäcklund)
- I Wish I Could Lie (Feat. Marika Willstedt)
- Hold On To Me (Feat. Kristoffer Fogelmark)
- You Have To Let Me Go (Feat. Tove Lo)
- The Most Beautiful Fear (Feat. Magnus Bäcklund)
- Running Through The Night (Feat. Marika Willstedt)
- Never Let The Sunshine Die (Feat. Kristoffer Fogelmark)
- My Last Refrain (Feat. Marika Willstedt)
- Love You More (Feat. Marika Willstedt & Kristoffer Fogelmark)
- Reasons (Feat. Marika Willstedt)