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ALDO NOVA - Aldo Nova [Metal Masters Series] |
Portrait/Epic/Legacy Recordings | |||||||
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Posted: 8/13/04Reviewed by: Dirt Category: AOR / 80s Hard Rock Released: 1982 Reissued: 4/13/04 Label URL: www.legacyrecordings.com Artist URL: | |||||||
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Life is just a fantasy, can you live this fantasy life?" One of the coolest choruses of the 80s, it was a line I remembered and sang over and over after hearing it only one time on the radio. In the early 80s, Aldo Nova was the essence of cool. His video for "Fantasy" was all over MTV, presenting him as an out-of-this world rockstar in a one-piece leopard suit equipped with a laser-filled guitar. Of course this was back when video was in its infancy and MTV played good music. More specifically, that’s when MTV actually stood for Music Television.
The best known of Aldo’s five releases, this self-titled debut album was written entirely by Aldo himself. Besides handling lead vocals, he also played guitar, bass and keyboards. His masterful use of keyboards gave "Fantasy" the eerie quality it required, all the while providing the perfect complement for his searing guitar leads. The album is chorus, guitar, and keyboard driven, ingredients that pushed it to platinum status in the USA. The sing-along choruses run through every track – the lust inspired "Hot Love," the jilted love stories "It’s Too Late," "Foolin’ Yourself," and "Heart To Heart," and the reverb driven "See The Light" just to name a few.
While you will occasionally hear "Fantasy" on a classic rock radio station, I don’t believe Aldo has been given the respect he deserves. There are so many other songs from this and his other albums ("Monkey On Your Back," "Hold Back The Night," "Tonite (Lift Me Up)," "Heartless," and "Medicine Man") that we should be hearing on the radio. A great songwriter, he now finds success writing for Celine Dion, Faith Hill, and Clay Aiken. These are certainly profitable ventures for him, but I’m hoping, down the road, someone will lure him back into writing and recording one more commercial hard rock release.
The Bloody Truth: This self-titled debut from Aldo Nova is a classy chorus, guitar and keyboard driven outing. It was the definition of hard rock/AOR in 1982, balancing the use of guitar and keyboards in the most perfect way. Aldo was the rock star many of us kids wanted to be. I’m glad Legacy Recordings has given him his due by adding this record to their Metal Masters Series. Pick this one up and remember how great the 80s actually were. This expanded edition even includes an alternate version of "Foolin’ Yourself."
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