When their self-titled debut album sold a gazillion copies, their guitar sound became an instantly recognizable 70s FM rock radio staple, and their vocal harmonies hit unheard-of atmospheric highs, Boston was established as a rock and roll institution. Releasing a mere six studios albums in their 37-year history, Life, Love & Hope has listeners wondering what Boston leader and mastermind Tom Scholz has in store for the 2013.
Fans needn’t worry. As Scholz claims: “These are songs from the heart, each of them taking many months of effort to write, arrange, perform and record, always up to the demands of Boston’s harshest critic: Me.” Hearing the opener “Heaven On Earth,” you soon realize you’re not only getting that signature Boston sound; you’re also getting Scholz playing practically every instrument on an album he arranged, produced and wrote or co-wrote all the songs for. Some of the songs feature singer Brad Delp, who passed away in 2007. “Didn’t Mean To Fall In Love” sees Delp’s powerful and distinctive vocals soaring in a layered, 80s-sounding song, complete with handclaps, organ and acoustic guitar.
“Last Day Of School” is a guitar instrumental, a little too brief for what I was hoping was going to be some stretching out. “Sail Away” has some interesting drumming and big guitar moments, again with Delp out front with Kimberley Dahme rapping over some cool chunky machine-like moments before the song develops into a spacy ballad. Tommy DeCarlo, who joined Boston after Delp’s death, sings his ass off on the moving title track, a song that exemplifies the Boston sound with its lines of guitar harmonies, bleeding organ and those wonderful vocal harmonies.
“If You Were in Love,” is immersed by a dramatic piano and Kimberley Dahme vocal, peppered with a few scattered handclaps and guitar licks to remind you it’s a Boston song. “Someday” is a solid rocker with DeCarlo on lead vocals and the kind of guitar leads and breaks that brings us into Boston territory of old. Scholz knows this territory very well indeed, even if it takes him years to release Boston albums. Which leads one to the big question on everyone’s mind: Is this the Boston album you’ve been waiting for? Frankly, Life, Love & Hope is pretty much what you’d expect from a Tom Scholz production. Whether or not that’s a good or bad thing is really up to you.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
