McDonald, Brian - Wind It Up


Year of Release: 2000
Label: MTM Records
Catalog Number: 0681-11
Format: CD
Total Time: 52:47:00

Some might recognise this guy's name as he released a debut album back in the late 80s. Now he's back with his second effort, and this album features such names as Reb Beach (Dokken, Winger) and Alex Masi.

The album opens with a fantastic song titled "Wind it Up," which sounds like a blend of Winger and Def Leppard, with great hooks and a huge chorus. I think this song pretty much sums up the sound of this album as it is very melodic, with the focus on huge layered choruses. Sadly, Brian [McDonald] can't keep all songs up on the same level of quality as opener "Wind It Up," but there are enough good songs here to interest fans of smooth AOR and melodic rock. I have to admit that I really like this album and luckily Brian brought Reb Beach on the team and he does a good job spicing things up from being too sugary. The good songs on this album are really great, but I can't help feeling there are too many songs that just fall through as mediocre and that Brian could do better. The production could preferably be better as well.

Anyway, as the good songs are really great, this is still a recommended cd and absolutely worth purchasing fans of band like Leppard and Winger.

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
Wind It Up / Head Back Home / Words Come So Easy / I Don't Wanna Want Your Touch / When The Lightning Strikes / The Night Heaven Falls Down / The Rhythm Of Money / Somewhere On The Highway / If I Could Only See You Now / Just A Heartbeat Away / Amnesty / The Hope One Child Can Bring

Musicians:
Brian McDonald, Reb Beach, Alex Masi (guitars)?

Discography:
Brian McDonald Group - Desparate Business (1980s)
Wind It Up (2000)
Voyage (2003)

Genre: Melodic Rock/AOR

Origin US

Added: November 26th 2004
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Artist website: www.brianmcdonald.com
Hits: 2235
Language: english

  

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