Love, Brad - Through Another Door

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Song Haus
Catalog Number: 65582-55025-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 46:20:00

Some of you might recognise Brad Love's name, as he was the lead singer in the now legendary pomp/prog rock band Aviary, which was reviewed a few weeks ago on at ProgPower Online [Now found here at PW: Aviary -ed.]. Through Another Door is in fact Brad's second solo effort following Colours released back in 1982! 20 years later the man is still going strong, but what about his music?

Those of you expecting hi-tech, proggy AOR with innovative composing and songwriting or the second coming of Aviary might be a little disappointed. Although baring some similarities to his former band, this is a much more straighforward and sugary affair. We are moving on to the pop/rock category. What we get is melody-oriented, piano laden, poppy AOR. This is a salute to the whimps out there :-)

I certainly don't mind a healthy dose of sugary sweet balladry now and then, as long as the music itself is good and in this case it certainly is. Luckily we can still trace some pomp and prog references here and there, which makes the music far more interesting. Brad's got a fine, smooth, mid-ranged voice which suits this music well. Although his vocal performance is solid, it doesn't come close to the exceptional performance he delivered on the Aviary album. The soaring, helium influenced vocal style of Aviary is not present on this material.

Through Another Door is once again testimony to Brad's composing and song-writing skills. The songs presented are all in an easy-going pace, very mellow and soft. Some are pure ballads, some have a more mid-paced poppy feel to them and some are treated with orchestration. The material is very accessible and songs range from good to great in quality, not a single poor song. For the record, Brad does all the vocal, piano, bass and acoustic guitar work on the album wich in itself is quite impressive.

If you are into bands such as Styx and Robbie Valentine or piano based pomp rock, Through Another Door should be a safe purchase. Whilst being a bit too mellow in the long run for me and certainly not everyone's cup of tea, the songs are strong and perfect for a late night evening.

Similar bands: Styx, Robbie Valentine

[This review originally appeared December 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]

Tracklisting:
Perfect World (4:04) / Annie Annie (4:44) / Serious Games (4:55) / Darkness (3:24) / I Do (4:45) / All Over Now (4:13) / Remember Me (4:21) / Can't Say No (3:59) / Techno Toccata (1:22) / Simple Answer (5:11) / Between Us (3:16) / Home (2:01)

Musicians:
Brad Love - vocals, piano, bass, acoustic guitar
Jason Husbands - electric guitar
Sarah Husbands - violin
Troy Warren Jr. - drums, percussion

Discography:
Aviary - Aviary (1977/2002)
Through Another Door (2002)
Aviary - Ambition (2003) Colours (2004)
Soaring Solo (2007)

From The Vault (DVD - w/Ambition CD) (2005)

Genre: Melodic Rock/AOR

Origin

Added: December 30th 2004
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Artist website: www.bradlove.com
Hits: 2297
Language: english