Tommy DeCarlo - Dancing In The Moonlight (Album Review)

 

I'm not sure what more people want from Tommy DeCarlo. He has successfully hoisted the Boston legacy on his back and is proudly reproducing the music that captivated fans worldwide back in the late 1970's and into the 80's. On his second foray into the world of new melodic rock, Tommy hits another grand slam with an album chock full of potential radio favorites. The problem for him is, will anybody hear it? Will any American radio stations latch on to this well produced set of legacy extending songs? The answer is likely no. It's up to the music explorers that cull through various streaming platforms to share this with their musical comrades.

The album's title track "Dancing In The Moonlight" sounds like a leftover from Boston's 2nd album "Don't Look Back. Decarlo and his team at Frontiers have mastered that vintage Beantown sound, especially the Tom Sholz aspects. The guitars instantly bring you back to that glorious point of entry, when the world's best debut album was made. And this happens song after song. Unlike Tommy's debut album, this latest work is an unabashed throwback to the Rockman guitar sound and those unforgettable hooks. The guitar break on "Change Our Fate" has that pattented Boston pause before the next onslaught of sonic wonder. It's all good because the songwriting is on par with anything Sholz and the late Brad Delp could come up with. "Beyond Forever" is a ballad that echoes "A Man I'll Never Be" from the mothership's sophomore album. Alessandro Del Vecchio's production is smart and minimalist. There is no attempt to reinvent something that already works perfectly. Some will say this is too derivative. I say this music provides closure and a happy place for those who still want to go there. 

The nostalgia continues on "Life Is Just A Game" where some extistential questions are addressed in that late 70's Boston style featuring an eerily accurate Sholzian guitar solo. "No Surrender" employs a shiny acoustic guitar line underneath DeCarlo's soaring tenor. This is Boston Next Generation. These songs never deviate from the formula which if you ask me is the perfect remedy for the dark fury that permeates mainstream radio culture. "The Game Is On" mentions wheels and engines and other reliable Boston metaphors. It's a tribute to everything we love about this music.  A swirling keyboard intro adorns "The Road Will Lead To You". As you listen you imagine this could have been that missing Boston album that should have been released between "Don't Look Back" and "Third Stage". DeCarlo has the advantage of being a fan with a deep understanding of how the originals came to be.  The guitar work of both David Julian and Martin Jepsen Andersen is both accurate and stunning. 

"In The Hands of Fate" might be the only song on this album that deviates slightly from pure nostalgia. It's a bit more progressive than the others but close enough to not be a sore thumb. "Find The Love" really has a Third Stage groove. Nicholas Papapicco finds his mojo on the cymbals and high hats and no doubt is a fan of that multi-platinum debut record. "Home To You" has an immediate big hook using both acoustic and electric guitars. The vibe is Boston and a dash of Foreigner and gets stronger as the chorus hits you like a home run at Fenway Park. "Spread Your Wings And Fly" starts slow and builds with a chorus of voices in the classic Boston power ballad format. This would be a candidate for my make believe radio station where only the best music is offered. "You and Me" is last call for dancing in Hyannis. Another gold nugget of songwriting goodness. Tommy is reaching for heaven and he's hoping this music doesn't fade away. 

This project is everything a Boston fan could want and more. A remarkable start to finish effort that puts it on par with any of the Boston albums. Nobody in the rock media will tell you this. Nobody in the rock media will even review this or cover it's release. Classic rock stations won't find the testicular fortitude to feature any of these songs next to the classic works that inspired them. The question is: If a Boston song falls in the forest is there anyone there to hear it? For those who seek, they will find the music we all grew up with.

Album Rating 10.0