Astral Drive “Astral Drive”
Oh boy, if you ever were a fan of Todd Rundgren’s Utopia then have I got an album for you. I heard a lot of buzz about this album from several people, and in some sense, it does live up to the hype. Astral Drive (aka Phil Thornalley) creates a sonic love letter to all those Todd fans who pine for those late ‘70s early ‘80s grooves. The opener “Love Is Real” uses all those classic synth lines to create a sunny slice of perfect pop. “Wishing I Could Change” is almost Phil Spector-ish in its grand production, but it also reminded me of ’90s one-hit wonders New Radicals and this sound is also quite evident on the catchy “Summer of ‘76” with a soulful pop sound that deserves to be a huge radio hit. If any complaint can be made, it sticks a little too close to its original influences.
The album slowly moves away from catchy singles to longer glossy, cosmically themed indulgences. The blissful harmonies start out on “Walls and Bridges” before it heads into the title track “Astral Drive,” a multi-layered epic that you can get lost in with its extended guitar solo that drifts off. “Child Of The Universe” and “No One Escapes” sounds like they fell of Utopia’s POV album. Overall, no filler tunes here and after several listens, you will find the magic of the melodies below all that studio wizardry. Highly Recommended.
Rob Bonfiglio “Trouble Again”
Rob Bonfiglio (Wanderlust) has been making great music since 2006, and his experience as musical director and guitarist for Wilson Philips has only helped focus his own musical vision. On his fifth LP, he really hits it out of the park, with his rich multi-layered harmonies and catchy radio-friendly melodies. From the opener “Passenger Seat” and title track “Trouble Again” it centers on the big guitar riffs and a style that marries 70’s Southern California rock with 80’s melodic pop.
A big highlight is “Spread This Feeling,” a joyful love song that brims over with “Ooh La La” Beach Boys-styled harmonies and brilliant guitar rhythms. Rob has a soulful lead vocal that’s designed for cranking the volume up and jamming with air guitar. He gets all AOR funky on the breezy “Gone” and then comes “Tears” with its mix of soft pop and a heart-tugging chorus that demands multiple listens. And it doesn’t let up, without a hint of filler. Music Critic Bob Leggett mentioned that this is a “must-get” album and I wholeheartedly agree. In fact, it’s an easy pick for my top ten album list of 2018.
