Austin Project, Jeff - Go Big Or Stay Home

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Frontiers
Catalog Number: FR CD 115
Format: CD
Total Time: 36:59:00

The Jeff Austin Project was formed back in 1989 and it took one EP (released in 1994) and years of shopping for a deal before Now and Then Records/Frontiers picked them up late 2001.

JAP serves up a nice collection of AOR/melodic hard rock songs in the tradition of Aviator, Valentine (the US band), Night Ranger and early Danger Danger. The sound is rather dated, but that might be intentional and it suits the music really well. The sound emphasis is on nicely assemble, harder edged guitars with ever present keys. On top of that you get Marc Roebuck's smooth mid-ranged vocals that are tailor-made for this music. Out of the 9 songs you get 8 rockers and the obligatory ballad. There are a couple of mediocre tracks, but overall the songs are very strong with great, hooking melody-lines. Immediate favourites are the catchy "I'm A Fighter" and the opener "Lisa." The production could be a little stronger, but it is well balanced. As mentioned the sound is rather dated but it serves its purpose and it is fair to say that it suits the music and brings forth the nostalgia of the genre's old glory days

This album is recommended to all AOR/hard rock fans and for the record the CD contains two cover songs in "So You Can," written by Barry Goudreau of Boston (originally recorded by Orion The Hunter), and "I'm A Fighter," written by Jimi Jamison (Survivor) and Mandy Meyer (Asia/Gotthard).

Similar To: Aviator, Night Ranger, Danger Danger

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

Tracklisting:
Lisa / Hideaway / Too Late For Love / Forever / I'm A Fighter / Too Many Midnights / Caught Up In Ecstacy / Find A Way / So You Ran

Musicians:
Jeff Austin - drums, keys, backing vocals
Mark Severns - guitars, backing vocals
Rex Alan - bass
Mark Roebuck - lead vocals

Discography:
Go Big Or Stay Home (2002)

Genre: Other

Origin CA

Added: November 1st 2002
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Hits: 2562
Language: english