BRUCE TURGON - Outside Looking In

Posted: 09/01/07

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: AOR

Label URL:  www.frontiers.it   Released: 11/07/05

Label URL:  www.locomotiverecords.com  Released: 02/21/06

Artist URL: www.bruceturgon.com

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Bruce Turgon has a long history in the music business.  In the 70s, he teamed up with Lou Gramm (Foreigner) in Black Sheep, a band that was supposed to tour with KISS in 1975 but lost the gig due to an equipment accident.  After recording and touring with Billy Thorpe, Nick Gilder, Prism and Warrior, Bruce rejoined Lou Gramm for his highly successful solo album, Ready Or Not (1987).  After some work with Steve Steven's Atomic Playboys, Turgon continued his association with Gramm in Shadow King, the short-lived project that featured Dio/Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell.  He also joined Foreigner in 1992 after bassist Rick Wills exited, playing and writing material on Mr. Moonlight (1995).
 

Outside Looking In is Turgon's first solo release.  It's a well-written, sonically solid, slab of AOR that has a somewhat dark sound to it and just enough contemporary quality to bridge the gap between the 80s and today's music.  This darkness adds emotion to the songs, which lyrically often relate to relationships ("Living A Lie," "Heart So Strong," "Walk Through Fire.").  Choruses are strongly present, which will be pleasing to fans of Turgon's previous work, but I wouldn't describe the album as 'up', despite the varied tempos of the songs and the bright guitar solos (handled by Ronnie Montrose, Rocket Ritchotte, and Scott McKinstry).  Turgon handles the lead vocals, bass, rhythm guitar, and keyboards on the album, and he proves to be more than accomplished in all areas.  Vocally, Bruce's has some similarities to Lou Gramm in spots, especially when he sings lower.

The Bloody Truth:  I have found myself giving Outside Looking In repeated listens, and with each listen I enjoy it more.  Turgon has done a find job of differentiating the songs with varied tempos, instrumentation, and choruses.  If he had released this material in the 80s, it would have surely gotten quite a bit of airplay.  Any number of the songs could have been released as singles.  I find the slightly dark (and possibly despondent) vibe to be interesting and balanced by the bright solos and peppy pace of many of the songs.  Outside Looking In is certainly something that fans of Lou Gramm's solo material or even Billy Greer's Seventh Key project should pick up, as there is a similar vibe here on Bruce's solo outing.  I'd also say that this is one of the more interesting releases that I've heard in the AOR/melodic rock genre in awhile.