Music review: Boston — ‘Life, Love & Hope’
More than 10 years in making, just another band out of Boston strives to recapture the signature sound that propelled them up the record charts during the 1970s.
Boston鈥檚 first album since the tragic passing of lead singer Brad Delp in 2007, titled 鈥淟ife, Love & Hope,鈥� is once again spearheaded by founding member and lead guitarist Tom Scholz.
Scholz鈥檚 guitar wizardry and mastery of layering vocals and smooth harmonies launched Boston into the limelight with the band鈥檚 debut release in 1976. Recognized as one of the best-selling albums of all-time, the self-titled album remains one of my personal favorites. I fondly recall purchasing it on 8-track tape with my weekly allowance. Yes, I am that old.
Every tune sweetly oozed of classic rock as the album went on to sell 17 million copies in the United States. I鈥檒l always remember the hypnotic guitar beginning of the opening track with Delp singing, 鈥淚 looked out this morning and the sun was gone.鈥�
鈥淟ife, Love & Hope鈥� opens promisingly with 鈥淗eaven on Earth鈥� emulating the infectious vibe of 鈥淢ore Than a Feeling.鈥�
Unfortunately, the good feelings fade swiftly as much of the album falls victim to mediocrity.
A variety of lead singers attempted to fill the vocal void left by Delp, giving the material a lack of consistency and substance. Delp鈥檚 vocals are included on the previously unreleased 鈥淪ail Away.鈥� The retrospective song about Hurricane Katrina is yet another haunting reminder of how much the band misses Delp鈥檚 distinctive voice.
Scholz even joins the singing carousel with a performance on the pedestrian 鈥淟ove Got Away.鈥� The gifted guitarist redeems himself on the electrifying instrumental 鈥淟ast Day of School.鈥� While there are a few bright spots on the album, poor production quality plagues the overall sound.
It鈥檚 hard to understand why Scholz, a perfectionist and audiophile, would release an album with inferior sound quality. Boston鈥檚 sixth album may feature the familiar image of the spaceship guitar on the cover, but what鈥檚 inside is only a feeble imitation of the band鈥檚 previous offerings.
Just like the 8-track tape, Boston鈥檚 classic sound appears to be a thing of the past.