Journeyman vocalist Jeff Scott Soto has been compared to everyone from Glenn Hughes and Ronnie James Dio to Steve Perry and Seal. But on Lost In the Translation, his latest solo album, the one-time voice of Axel Rudi Pell, Yngwie Malmsteen, Talisman, Takara and Eyes comes off more like Kip Winger than anyone else. Soto's strong, slightly smoky voice brings to life each of these 11 songs, which sound straight out of 1989. If solid, anthemic American-made melodic hard rock sets your heart a-pumpin', Lost In the Translation could be your album of the year. Whether he's capturing the essence of the genre ("Soul Divine"), emoting on a memorable power balled ("If This is the End"), complementing a bouncy acoustic guitar ("Sacred Eyes") or simply singing his ass off on an all-out rocker ("On My Own"), Soto brings both subtlety and exuberance to his role. In addition to playing bass and keyboards, as well as providing his own harmony and backing vocals, Soto is joined by drummer Glen Sobel and guitarists Neal Schon (Journey), Gary Schutt and Howie Simon. I'm gonna give this one four-and-a-half stars not for its originality or complexity — using those as a basis would probably warrant only two-and-a-half stars for Lost In the Translation — but for its uncanny ability to respectfully and tastefully invoke a sound (and an era) that has all but disappeared. Nothing gets lost in the translation here.
Track Listing:
1) Believe In Me (5:09)
2) Soul Divine (4:09)
3) Drowning (4:15)
4) If This is the End (4:39)
5) Lost In the Translation (3:57)
6) Doin' Time (4:16)
7) High Time (3:49)
8) Beginning 2 End (5:260
9) On My Own (4:51)
10) Find Our Way (4:42)
11) Sacred Eyes (3:22)
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