Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Pratt, John
Label: Self-released
Release: 2011
Runtime: 60:12
Rating: 4.5/5
John Pratt is a superb American vocalist, arranger, composer and producer who first made a name for himself as the frontman of the successful melodic hard rock outfit Roxbury Drive back in the eighties. Later, in the nineties, John also sang on three albums with Firefly. Even though the man has been devoted to writing film music for years now, last year he took the time to rummage through dusty archives where he’d carefully kept his notes of musical ideas. John had 25 songs lined up, and picked just 13 for the album. The best ones, of course. In fact, one of the key factors behind Pratt’s decision to take those song sketches all the way to completion, and later to a solo studio record, was the fascination of his longtime colleague Phil Quartararo, a former head of EMI Records, who got to hear the demo versions of the future “Turn The Page” compositions on one occasion.
Being a perfectionist “through and through,” he never leaves anything he takes on to chance. He invited a whole host of renowned musicians to the album, people who work with well-known acts. To name just a few: Cher, Toto, Tom Petty, Black Crowes, Vixen, Greg Rollie (ex-Journey), Don Henley (Eagles), Jean Luc Ponti, Foreigner. Pratt handed the final mix to his longtime colleague Ryan Greene, with whom he once worked in Roxbury Drive. Greene polished every detail until the album’s sound gleamed. Greene’s lofty pedigree was confirmed by the fact that, right around the time he was mixing “Turn The Page,” the man picked up the prestigious “producer of the year 2011” award at the Los Angeles Music Awards.
“Turn The Page” is an album that constantly walks the thin, invisible line between melodic rock and pop. The scales keep tipping back and forth between the two genres throughout. The chorus of Yin Yang is the track that inherited the most rock contours on the record. The basic rhythms are occasionally generously layered with busy percussion undercurrents, and the bass guitar sits at just the right level, where you can feel a warm, organic pulse and a solid foundation. The organic, acoustic-sounding textures woven in give the album that final touch of perfection. The contrast between the songs’ lead melodies is remarkable in its nuances, and the mood-building crescendos in the choruses are cunningly executed and do exactly what they’re meant to do. Pratt, who at times recalls Danger Danger vocalist Ted Poley in his tone, sounds sensual, intimate and deeply personal in his delivery. Which is exactly what every solo studio album demands when it’s carried by a musician rather than a band.
The wide pool of excellent musicians adds a recognizable touch of top-notch instrumentation to this pop and rock magic, hinting that in a slightly “expanded” version of the album’s basic musical direction, these players would get along just as well if they were pushed to add mild jazzy spices to the core of the compositions. This wonderful interplay of sonic building blocks probably comes through most intensely and perfectly in the closing, solemn ballad Still Here. It boasts a unique dramatic build-up through a dynamic arrangement fired up by strings, brilliant transitional guitar embellishments that even maestro Neil Schon (Journey) wouldn’t be ashamed of, the clearly defined character of the classical piano accompaniment, and tastefully placed backing vocal harmonies that create the album’s peak right at its very end!
“Turn The Page” is always something to listen to by taking your time with it, as it’s an example of reaching studio sound perfection, poured out of the basic character of the arrangement and composition. There’s no pretension anywhere, just a search for the ideal balance, the coexistence of the individual building blocks in equilibrium, a richly condensed three-dimensional sonic picture, crystal-clear nuances of a rich sound palette, all ruled of course by the deeply expressive, personal character of Pratt’s excellent vocal interpretation. Pratt isn’t among the technically most accomplished vocalists, but that doesn’t matter as long as his delivery and distinctive voice string together feelings that are genuine and true. And it’s precisely that achievement that brings this album the most winning points. “Turn The Page” is an album tailor-made for melodic rock gourmets.
Lineup
John Pratt – vocals, keyboards
John Thomas – guitar
Ron Wikso – drums
Wally Minko – piano
Michael Alemania – keyboards
Lance Morrison – bass guitar
Chris Trujillo – percussion
Angela Alemania – backing vocals
Deena Russo – backing vocals
Kira Alemania – backing vocals
Ira Glansbeek – cello
Erlinda Romero – violin
Justin Pratt – violin
Production
Ryan Greene
Tracklist
01. Take Me There
02. Searching For the Answer
03. Turn the Page
04. Never Said Goodbye
05. Naivete’s Ball
06. Forgive Me
07. If What It Takes
08. Trust Your Feelings
09. One Silent Voice
10. I Will, You Won’t
11. Hold Me
12. Yin Yang
13. Still Here
