Music review: Loverboy – 鈥楿nfinished Business鈥�
Loverboy鈥檚 latest release features the veteran Canadian rockers sounding completely refreshed and satisfied. Forty years in the making, 鈥淯nfinished Business鈥� boasts an impressive set of unfinished demos from various stages of the band鈥檚 career.
These re-recorded songs masterfully mirror Loverboy鈥檚 signature sound from albums like 1981鈥檚 鈥淕et Lucky鈥� and 1985鈥檚 鈥淟ovin鈥� Every Minute of It.鈥� Having purchased the band鈥檚 self-titled debut album back in 1980, I was immediately impressed with how well the band has held up over the years.
With vigorous tracks like 鈥淭urn Me Loose,鈥� 鈥淗ot Girls in Love,鈥� 鈥淲orking for the Weekend鈥� and 鈥淲hen It鈥檚 Over鈥� on Loverboy鈥檚 resume, I was hoping for the best but prepared for disappointment. Any doubts were quickly dispelled on the album鈥檚 opening number.
Led by the scorching guitar riffs of Paul Dean, Mike Reno鈥檚 still-youthful vocals and catchy chorus, 鈥淔ire Me Up鈥� is a tasty throwback to the slick arena rock of the 1980s. Pumping bass and synthesizer highlight rousing songs like 鈥淐ountin鈥� the Nights,鈥� 鈥淎in鈥檛 Such a Bad Thing鈥� and 鈥淵ou Play the Star.鈥� The standout track is surprisingly delivered on 鈥淪lave.鈥�
The electrifying number shines with an absorbing feel reminiscent of Deep Purple鈥檚 鈥淏urn鈥� and 鈥淗ighway Star,鈥� proving Loverboy can kick it into a higher gear when needed. Unfortunately, not every song on the album strikes a favorable note. The power ballad 鈥淐ome Undone鈥� and the overly dramatic 鈥淲ar Bride鈥� should have been left unfinished and forgotten.
Loverboy鈥檚 fans played a major role in selecting the name of the new album by voting on Facebook.
Inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2009, Loverboy still seems to be loving every minute in the spotlight.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.