Coincidence is a disarming thing. How else do you explain that after nigh on fifteen years I become reacquainted with Malsteen’s Odyssey album (featuring superb vocals by Joe Lynn Turner) and simply can’t get the thing off the car stereo. Then blow me a couple of weeks later Mr Cummings, the proprietor of this fine website, is asking me to review JLT’s new album without any knowledge of former events. Ok. It’s hardly Nostradamus. But I find it weird that in all that time I’d virtually forgotten about JLT and in the space of a month he’s all I’m listening to! But that’s the music business for you. Things go round in cycles and maybe Joe has sensed the time is right for a proper comeback.  

Certainly this album has a retro feel. What with a Hammond organ swirling all over the place. And in my book that’s no bad thing. As long as the production is tight and modern, which in this case it is. This is Joe’s ninth solo album and he has got a few mates in to play the various instruments featured herein. The album gets off to a glorious start with ‘Power Of Love’ and features said Hammond organ in all its glory. Indeed this is the very sound that made Purple and Rainbow so addictive all those years ago and things look very promising indeed. And the good news is things continue in similar fashion for ‘Devil’s Door’ and the brilliant ‘Jacknife’ – a real good go at recreating that famous old MK2 Purple sound. Things get all ‘Glenn Hughes’ for ‘Really Loved’ and you can tell the two have collaborated in the past as all the Hughes’ trademarks are in there. And I suppose when you think about it JLT is really America’s version of Glenn in terms of iconic rock vocals, career path, and reputation as a journeyman. 

Next up is a power ballad called ‘Rest Of MY Life’ and here things start to go a bit a Pete Tong. Up to this point I was beginning to think that Joe was going to have a surprise hit album of the year on his hands. But a weird change of sound from the guitar department and somehow it just all feels a little patchy. (There are two guitarists credited on this release, so I can only assume that this is where the two guys change over.) Anyway the same sound persists on ‘Into The Fire’ which once again has a touch of the Hughesy about it. But where is that magnificent Hammond Organ? Suddenly it’s like we are listening to two separate albums. It’s such a shame as the opening tracks have a certain something about them that seem to bring the best out of Joe’s voice. Not that JLT’s vocals are ever anything less than on the button here. He hasn’t sounded this good in a long time. Honest.  

Things improve for ‘Blood Money’ with a stonking Blackmore style solo and a corking riff but it still lacks the majesty of before. ‘All Alone’ is a very pleasant slice of west coast power-funk balladry – if there is such a thing. Why it even pops into Journey territory which kind of got me thinking what would JLT sound like with Neal Schon behind him? But then that’s part of the problem with solo projects. There are just so many style’s on here and different players that it lacks cohesion. This is highlighted by ‘Ball And Chain’ which is a Yankee hard rocker with a brilliant vocal from Joe but we are now so far removed from what we started the album with I’m all confused. Not hard, I know. 

Then dear, oh, dear. JLT has changed nationality and entered the Eurovision Song Contest for Latvia with a horrible ballad entitled ‘Bing-a-bang-bong’. Well that’s what it might as well be. ‘Live And Love Again’ is just about the most horrendous, sickly ballad I’ve ever heard. I’m a cold fish when it comes to this stuff. How cold? Think Arctic Char and you’ll get some idea of the effect this song had on me. Yuck! Why Joe, why? However just when all looks lost JLT pulls a total cracker out of nowhere with the best track on the album ‘Unfinished Bizness’. Yeah the Hammond’s back, and indeed we are back… in business. Amazingly this is listed as a European bonus track. Are the record company mad? This is Purple, Rainbow, JLT at its very finest. This is what he does best.  

This is a good album, but could have been a great one. As it is all fans of the usual suspects (Purple, Rainbow and even Hughes’ and Malsteen’s, I suspect) will absolutely love it. As for the rest you will no doubt use the CD changer, as I eventually did, to avoid some of the dross and enjoy the brilliance of the likes of ‘Jacknife’ and ‘Unfinished Bizness’.

Let us know your views on 'Futures'

Track List

Power Of Love
Devil's Door
Jacknife
Really Loved
Rest Of My Life
Into The Fire
Blood Money
All Alone
Ball And Chain
Live And Love Again
Unfinished Bizness