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SHOOTING STAR
LEAP OF FAITH
Home Grown VR0224-2
Produced by: Kevin Beamish
Released: OUT / Website
Closest Relative: Carl Dixon, Axe
GENRE: Rock
OVERALL: 60%

  1. I Just Wanna Rock
  2. I Need Your Touch
  3. If You Want It
  4. Leap Of Faith
  5. She Drives Me Crazy
  6. Face To Face
  7. Happy Eyes
  8. Love Is A Shield
  9. Promises
  10. Call It Love
  11. Find A Way
  12. Higher Place

Shooting Star are back with producer Kevin Beamish at the helm. That sort of guarantees a solid production job, which is true again here.
That would actually sums up much of the album. Solid, but possibly without being outstanding or sensational.
Shame on me, but this is my first foray into the band, so I cannot compare the worth of this album with that of their back catalogue.
But I can comment on this record.
The album doesn't break any new musical ground, basically the guys play a blend of straight up bar room rock n roll, with a touch of blues thrown in for good measure.
Vocally as well as musically this record sounds a lot like Carl Dixon and his cool solo album.
If You Want It actually reminds me of a more Midwestern Axe!
The softer acoustic based title track is very cool, while Drive Me Crazy sees the guys rolling out the organ.
The second half of the album sees the guys head towards a softer more AOR direction, with a few James Christian vocal comparisons.
BOTTOM LINE: This is an album for long time fans of the band or fans of stripped back, effects bare good honest rock n roll.
Good melodies and strong songs throughout, without ever quite exploding into anything that will blow your mind. That small point aside, it's still a good album and fans of American heartland rock should enjoy it.
PRODUCTION: 70% SONGS: 65% VIBE: 55%ATTITUDE: 60%
ESSENTIAL FOR: Fans of American Midwestern rock and bar room blues rock n roll.




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