Artist: Heartland
Label: Escape Music
Released: 1997
Rating: 4.5/5
From the very beginning, Heartland has mostly been a creative partnership between Chris Ousey and Steve Morris. The two have a pretty impressive pedigree in the AOR world, having played with other masters of the genre too (Morris, for example, with Steve Overland of FM). That experience undeniably shows on Bridge of Fools, which, personally speaking, ranks among the greatest achievements of the genre.
The album is well set up right from the start. Sure, it follows a fairly typical AOR pattern, where a couple of fast numbers are followed by a ballad, then another faster song, and so on. But obviously that pattern works, so why would Heartland change it? Steve Morris and Chris Ousey, the minds behind the music and lyrics, leave nothing to chance. Everything feels polished down to the smallest detail. If the album had been recorded ten years earlier, it would probably have been a huge hit, because there are countless melodies that stick in your ear immediately. The solos are very melodic too, yet Morris still proves what a quality guitarist he is. The fact is that AOR has been in commercial decline for quite a while now, and bands can barely sell more than a handful of albums (except the “biggest” ones). But in a way that’s actually better, because it means we get releases like Bridge of Fools, full of freshness and sincerity. Ousey and Morris don’t have to answer to anybody. They make music for themselves and for all those loyal fans of the genre. With Bridge of Fools they created their most honest, melodic and lyrically demanding work, full of emotional twists and interesting plot turns. At least in my opinion, they never matched that achievement again.
It’s actually hard to single out individual songs, since the whole album is outstanding. There isn’t a single weak moment where you could say the inspiration ran dry. Perhaps Castles in the Sand stands out a little, with Morris showing off how fast his fingers are, along with Elena with its dark theme and Still Got my Feet on the Ground with its playful lyrics.
The biggest creator of Heartland’s sound is undoubtedly guitarist and keyboardist Steve Morris, who especially shines on guitar, where he ranks among the best – not so much for technique as for feel (though now and then he proves he’s got speed to spare too). Chris Lloyd occasionally helps out on keyboards, but Morris plays most of it himself. Chris Ousey’s vocals deserve a special mention too, as he is one of the most underrated singers in any genre. The man has an incredible range (he can go especially high), and his voice is slightly raspy and distinctive. Any album he appears on is worth buying for his vocals alone. The rhythm section is the textbook definition of AOR perfection – cool, seasoned professionalism without any outrageous technical feats.
What sets Heartland apart from the crowd of AOR bands (even the biggest ones) is Ousey’s view of the world and how he presents it through his lyrics. Chris Ousey has a much deeper insight into the human soul than the average AOR lyricist. For him, things aren’t as simple as the likes of Journey or even FM make them out to be, going from ultra-happy moments of erotic ecstasy to pathetic, syrupy wailing over a love that lasted all of three days. Ousey knows how to build real stories out of his lyrics, ones that can sometimes lead you into the dark corners of the human psyche, sometimes surprise you with sarcastic remarks about the social system, and of course he can also say something more romantic. But with him, love lyrics feel more believable and definitely more realistic than the quick romances of assorted Steve Perrys, who is still mourning all three hundred of his missed chances.
With this album, Heartland reached the peak of their creative abilities, as far as I’m concerned. The combination of simple compositions, polished technical playing and subtle lyrics is seriously effective, and it puts Heartland among the greatest masters of the AOR genre. I can say without any trouble that Bridge of Fools is the greatest masterpiece in Heartland’s discography. Maybe Morris could have shown a bit more compositional imagination now and then, but this simple style is exactly what suits this album. So, all you melodic rock (AOR) fans, you simply have to own this one.
Lineup
Chris Ousey – vocals
Steve Morris – guitar, keyboards
Chris Lloyd – keyboards
Steve Gibson – drums
Tim A. Duncan – bass guitar
Production
Steve Morris
Tracklist
1. Tomorrow Won’t Wait
2. Castles in the Sand
3. Where the Pieces Fall
4. I Will Wait for You
5. Elena
6. Front Page News
7. Only a Heartbeat Away
8. Not Till Heaven Falls
9. Hardworking Man
10. Feels Like Magic
11. Still Got My Feet on the Ground
12. Don’t Let the Fire Die
