Avenue of Allies/Sound Pollution
Polish multi-instrumentalist George (Jerzy) Grunwald once lived in the States, perfecting his music and making friends. His fancy for bands like THE EAGLES, TOTO and JOURNEY resulted in this “old school” AOR project. This album boasts musicians like; Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, and Alex Ligertwood, and there is nothing run-of-the-mill about them. “So Much to Say” was written over an extensive period of time, recorded in various studios in Denmark, Poland and Sweden, and produced and mixed by the well-known Dane Oli Poulsen (MICHAEL LEARNS TO ROCK etc.). This album has previously been released in a ten track version in various Asian territories only.
The title track opens, and does so with a soft and contagious piano backline. It may be a tad swifter, but it is so much CHICAGO and TOTY at heart. The following “Save My Love” is Westcoast, with an arrangement to die for and a mother of a refrain. Twelve tracks later, I´m almost as impressed. If the album had had a few more of the tracks mentioned above, plus the duet “Touch the Sun” and themany fine-tuned voices of “Why Don´t You Stay” I would have been even more generous in the grade department. But the project shows their human side and steers clear of the five-star review. I only really think that the drag comes along around “Mystery Girl”. Too many slow paced, albeit silky smooth, tracks in a row gets on my nerves sort of. There is variation on the album, but not very much so when it comes to the pace. Still, this is a mighty fine effort in the Westcoast/AOR tradition. I wasn´t sure this kind of ambitious projects happened anymore…
Track List
So Much to Say
Save My Love
You Know
Have I Lost My Girl
I´m Emotional
Touch the Sun
With Every Breath
Mystery Girl
A Love so Right
Don´t Give It Up
Why Don´t You Stay
Save My Love (Instrumental Festuring Eric Marienthal)
www.avenue-of-allies.com www.georgegrunewald.com
