Foglia; Steve: Steve In Wonderland

Steve In Wonderland is the second solo offering from Jennifer Scream drummer Steve Foglia and having spent time in Steve's Wonderland, it would fair to suggest that it resides somewhere in 70s rock. Uriah Heep often springs to mind, early Rainbow is a touching point and even Dio with more prominent keyboards wouldn't be a million miles from the rabbit hole Steve appears from. Opening track "Fight For Justice" begins the journey well, Blaze Bayley providing an excellent guest vocal on a lazy paced, yet hugely memorable introduction. Often derided, Bayley really is excellent here, the easy tempo of the song and almost jaunty chorus challenging the ex Iron Maiden man to sing in a different style, which suits him to perfection. However what it also does is set the bar high and often Steve and his tea party mates don't quite launch this Wonderland to these heights again. What doesn't help is an uneven contribution from vocalist Johnny Idol, who when powering through the heavier, more brooding material does a pretty decent job. However when he really stretches out and goes for the big notes, well hang onto your hats, we're in for a bumpy ride... The best (worst?) example being his crazed contortions during the simply awful "Wrong Hole" (I'll let you work out what this song is about. It'll leave a very questionable taste in your mouth...). "Walking In Wonderland" finds the singer joined by Simone "Seth" Boresellini, a lady who can certainly belt it out and yet whoever thought Idol's voice complimented this young lady's needs a serious rethink.

It isn't all bad though, "Enemy's Collection" thumping along threateningly like an Alice Cooper unsettler, "Eternal Last Day" raising the spirits like an anthem of old. In fact, if you like straight down the middle heavy rock with a strong infusion of keyboards, then musically you can't go wrong here, even if things are all a little safe and expected. Making it all the more confusing why slap bang in the middle of Steve In Wonderland there's sub par cover of the Grand Funk Railroad standard, "We're An American Band". Now there's a song I never thought I'd hear performed with a heavy mid-European accent...

There's lots to enjoy on Steve In Wonderland and I'd be a liar if I was to pretend that much of it isn't stick in the mind catchy. Yet there are areas which hamper full engagement with this album and in all honesty, they're fundamental enough that I doubt I'd pull it down from the shelf for a regular listen.

Track Listing
1. Fight For Justice
2. Few Days To The End
3. Numbers
4. Wrong Hole
5. Love's Gate
6. Walking In London
7. We're American Band
8. Club 27
9. Children's Band
10. Enemy's Collection
11. Eternal Last Day

Added: February 15th 2015
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Steve Foglia online
Hits: 1887
Language: english

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