JEFF SCOTT SOTO - Essential Ballads

Posted: 9/9/06

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Melodic Rock

Label URL: www.locomotiverecords.com    Released: 11/7/06

Label URL: www.frontiers.it    Released: 5/19/06

Artist URL: www.jeffscottsoto.com

1/2

Jeff Scott Soto seems to finally be getting the respect he deserves.  He recently took over the lead vocal slot on Journey's current tour and has received rave reviews.  Whether he becomes a full-time member of Journey remains to be seen but the exposure will certainly lift the rest of his career and shine some attention on his solo work, as well as his hard rock band Talisman.

During Jeff's solo career, he has released three studio albums (Love Parade, Prism, and Lost In Translation), two limited edition EP's (Holding On and Believe In Me), and one live cd/dvd.  Essential Ballads culls thirteen remastered tracks from all those releases, except the live cd/dvd.  Additionally, there are three previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Jeff Scott Soto's vocal delivery is filled with emotion and soul so it's perfectly suited for ballads.  It amazes me that he never crossed over to R&B and became a smash success with the ladies. Essential Ballads spotlights Jeff's soft side and will appeal to anybody who is in the mood for a quality, emotional delivery.  While I prefer Jeff's ability to be a chameleon, and when he delivers a rip roarin' rocker as well as a tender ballad on a single album, I can appreciate that this entire cd spotlighting his softer side might help Jeff cross over to a different audience.

The Bloody Truth: Since Essential Ballads concentrates on Jeff's softer approach, it is recommended to those that enjoy the lighter side of rock, R&B, and Soul music.  Jeff is a true talent and I hope that his time in Journey takes him on to even bigger things.