Walker's is an enduring name in the melodic rock world.
His wonderful '
Waiting For Love', co-written with Jeff Paris for Alias has made him practically immortal.
Unfortunately his own releases have been thin on the ground over the years, limiting his fame as a recording artists to modest proportions.
Yet, Walker has proved himself to be an extraordinarily gifted songwriter. So why isn't he bigger? The simple (and maybe simplistic) explanation is the content of his three 'solo' albums. Unfortunately, only his first, '
Nevertheless', packages his material together in a cohesive, varied and balanced manner.
The production, the arrangements and the track tempo on his other releases
'Lift Off' and
'.And The Railbirds' are inclined to switch to autopilot early on, and despite the quality of the material, appear to bland out in a one paced, one dimensional soft rock haze.
On his new release, '
Spirit Junky', Walker comes dangerously close in places to committing those same crimes.
It's only when he picks up on the Tom Petty like blue collar rock music of dirt roads, pick up trucks and wide open spaces on ('
Round And Round' and
'Southern Blue Sky'), or when he homes in on the Beatle-esque harmonies and lilting album tunes of ('
Sorry Just Aint Enough' and '
Calalia'),that he sounds inspired, energised and on top of his game.
It all starts so well. The Burtnik like opener '
Give Me Back Tomorrow's uplifting chord progressions and grown up resonance augurs well for the rest of the album. But sadly, nothing else quite matches this marvellous opener.
Second track, '
Something So Real' like several others, bears close scrutiny if lifted out of the album's confines and looked at in isolation. But again, like many others - '
If You Only Knew', '
Rights To Yesterday' and '
Remind Me' for example - it adds to a strong sense of sameness that gradually prevails as the album progresses.
Elsewhere, highlights include The Rembrandts' like sophisticated, harmonised poprock of '
Until We Live Again'. The wistful '
Waking Up The Dream', lazily drifting into Roger McGuinn territory. And lastly, '
Living In Maybe Land'. This track has much more of a contemporary feel, and a sense of urgency lacking in most other songs, and comes as a welcome palliative.
A mixed bag then. A disappointingly patchy collection of new songs from a fine songwriter. Maybe we've just become desensitised to Walker's gently rockin sound and the humanity in his lyrics. Or maybe he's just not willing to move on.
Fortunately, one way or the other, on balance, there are just enough treats in this mixed bag to make the purchase worthwhile.
Written by
Brian Wednesday, May 9, 2007
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