Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Bush, Stan
Label: Cargo Records
Release: 2017
Duration: 41:49
Rating: 3.5/5
A word or two about the new solo studio album from American singer-songwriter Stan Bush, »Change the World«. The icon of melodic and AOR sound has put out, believe it or not, his 13th studio album overall this year, and he’s still stubbornly sticking to the gospel of musical vision that has always served him very well (especially in the US). Bush has long been considered one of the most refined and polished composers when it comes to the aesthetics of that slick crossbreeding of eighties pop with hard rock (again, of the eighties).
Bush co-wrote some real evergreen hits. House Of Lords, for one, shot to fame with the hit and ballad Love Don’t Lie, whose original is Bush’s own writing, penned by Stan for his band at the time, Barrage.
»Change the World« is devoted to the sound of eighties AOR pomp. It’s a melodically super-infectious piece of work that gets under your skin instantly. The chorus hooks are grabby, the build-up of mood is once again deftly packaged, and the songs hit their atmospheric climax, as a rule, in the choruses. The instruments sit in just the right sonic balance and none of them is favored in the mix. The production sticks so stubbornly to the eighties groove that you’d honestly wish at times for a bit more kick from the bass drum. Bush once again adds extra programmed loops to all this, and does it very skillfully. He’s always loved tinkering with them, and this time too the element serves him hugely when he wants to underline chosen emotions or contrast the mood in the songs. Above the guitar phrases, billowing curtains of eighties synths »float« in the background of the sonic picture, and that really deepens the retro-nostalgic feel, which will go down a treat with fans of radio-friendly eighties rock. In short: Stan Bush simply knows his trade. And since the man remains forever enterprising and has already tasted the sweetness of commercial success, he’s included a few of his commercial gems on the new album, tweaking the arrangements a touch. So the man doesn’t want to leave anything to chance. Sonically refreshed are the hits Dare and The Touch, both of which were used in the film Transformers. The track at number 2, Warrior, belongs in this league too. It’s a song that’s incredibly reminiscent of the tricks of Survivor from the days when they were writing the ideal track for the Rocky soundtrack. No surprise there. Warrior already brought Bush commercial success in the past, and everyone who ever played the computer game Shadow Warrior II knows it.
It’s no longer a surprise that on this album too you can dig out a few new songs that could have become hits had the album come out in the eighties. The first candidate is right away the opening title track with its unbelievably catchy chorus. Bush remains a big optimist in his lyrics. He preaches above all that you have to strive for your goal and not stray from the path at any price. Only that way can you reach it, no matter what nastiness you have to overcome on the way there. Never give up on your dreams.
»Change The World« is thus yet another extremely polished and lovely studio album from a seasoned master of the bible known as AOR / melodic rock. From start to finish it’s a synonym for perfection and polish. You couldn’t have expected anything else from Stan Bush. So, fans of eighties AOR, this is an album that will fit you like a glove. Whoever can’t stand sugar, on the other hand, should jump well clear of this album.
Stan Bush – Never Surrender (official video):
Lineup
Stan Bush – vocals, backing vocals
Holger Fath – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
Tom Walsh – drums
Production
Holger Fath
Tracklist
1. Change The World
2. Warrior
3. Born To Win
4. Never Surrender
5. The Story of Love
6. Live Your Dream
7. Break These Chains
8. The Other Side of Love
9. Dare
10. The Touch
11. The Secret
