Gary Hughes has long been one of my favourite singers and one of the very finest songwriters I have ever heard, so I looked forward to this, his first solo album since 1998’s Precious Ones, with huge anticipation. 

The blurb that came with this release quotes Gary as saying “the songs on this album are among the strongest I have ever written in my lifetime”, so this further added to how much I was looking forward to getting this in my CD player. Having done so on numerous occasions now though, I have to say that I am disappointed overall in what I have heard. Firstly, the production and mix is dreadful which does not help, Then some of the keyboards and drum-programming make it feel far too clinical at times and lastly some of the songs just simply aren’t up to the standard I have come to expect from Gary Hughes. 

Things start off well enough with the title track, “Veritas” which has lots of trademark Hughes elements, in excellent lyrics, a great melody and a catchy chorus. “See Love Through My Eyes” is a decent enough slower track but its muddy production / mix really lets it down. Hughes seems to have been listening to Linkin Park because “In My Head” has all the hallmarks of the alt rock superstars’ songwriting style.  

But if you think that track is a bit “sound-a-like”, then wait ‘til you hear “I Pray For You” which is just a blatant rip off of the middle section of Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell…close enough to wonder whether legal action will be on the cards if the sneering punk star gets to hear this. I simply have no idea what possessed Hughes to put this particular track out. I know he has a bit of a reputation of not taking much advice when it comes to songwriting, but someone must have pointed out the similarities to such a popular and familiar tune, surely ?? 

When the songs are OK, like “Time To Pray” or “All I Want Is You”, the sound quality ruins them and then some of the other songs are just not that good to start with. I think the only track of both decent song and sound quality is “Wide Awake In Dreamland” which is a fabulous track and a cut above all the rest of the album, for me. 

By the time the second half of the album rolls around, I think many listeners may have already given up and those that have stuck with the album have to contend with more poor sound quality and average songs. 

To say that I am disappointed with this eagerly-awaited release is a ridiculous understatement. Gary Hughes simply has to get the sound sorted for his next release…one call to Dennis Ward could be the best move of his career potentially. This will not stop me being a fan of Hughes’ undoubted talent, but he has got to realise that whilst he is indeed a master songwriter and certainly a very good studio singer, he cannot do everything else to the same standard to bring the best out of his talent. A crying shame.

Let us know your views on Veritas

Track Listing

Veritas
See Love Through My Eyes
In My Head
Time To Pray
Wide Awake In Dreamland
I Pray For You
Synchronicity
Strange
All I Want Is You
I Know It's Time
Emerald Sea
Everlasting Night

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