Jackson, Ben - Here I Come


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Jaxhammer Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 51:08:00

If the name Ben Jackson rings a bell but you don't know why, look the Crimson Glory way. Ben was one of the founding members of Crimson Glory and played rhythm guitar on their first two releases. He parted ways with CG in the very early 90s and made a reappearance in 95 with his own band called Parish in the form of Invision. I don't know what happened in the meantime, but nowadays, apart from his solo album, he is back in the Crimson Glory line-up, but let's have a closer look at his new solo release titled Here I Come.

Firstly, I need to point out that Here I Come does not provide a workout for the headbanger out there, but is a very laid back melodic album with lots of acoustic guitars. Ironically, the disc reminds me very much of the Crimson Glory release Strange And BeautifulHere I Come. I could detect a smitten of Aerosmith in some numbers but would not want to compare them directly. Ben appears to be a very good guitar player and conveys the same throughout the album without endless shredding sessions and self-indulgent guitar wanking, but with smooth melodic riffing. Lyrically, the songs seem to deal with personal events and philosophies. but most of the tracks lack excitement and even a cameo by Thomas Youngblood (g - Kamelot), who added some hand clapping (!!!!) on "Closer To The Soul," does nothing to lift this album into the "of interest" bracket. Here I Come also appears to be an Independent release but receives full distribution via Nightmare Records (www.nightmare-records.com).

Ben Jackson, together with Rick Duncan, produced the album and the cover painting - if that's what you call a photo collage - along with some blurred colours in the background was done by Jenny Kellogg.

Similar To: Aerosmith, (late) Ted Nugent, Pat Travers

[This review originally appeared May 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Feel Me (5:13) / To My Surprise (4:45) / Closer To Soul (5:37) / The Bold One (4:08) / Here I Come (4:55) / Touched (5:38) / Misty Rain (3:51) / Your World Or Mine (3:44) / Flesh And Blood (4:14) / The Bomb (3:48) / Whistle In The Wind (5:11)

Musicians:
Ben Jackson - guitar, vocals, bass
Rich Tabor- drums & percussion
John Bajas- guitar (3, 10, 11)

Guests:

Wade Black - vocal trades (10)
Jeff Lords - bass (10)
Duane Freeman - sax (3)
Thomas Youngblood - hand claps (5)
Jesse (Martillo) Rojas - hand claps (5), percussion (11)

Discography:
Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory (1986)
Crimson Glory - Transcendence (1988)
Crimson Glory - Astronomica (1999)
Parish - Envision (1995)
Here I Come (2001)
All Over You (2005)

Genre: Melodic Metal

Origin US

Added: December 28th 2004
Reviewer: Peter Fundeis
Score:
Artist website: www.benjacksongroup.com
Hits: 2746
Language: english

  

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