This nice early November weather has created a weekend anomaly: Bowling tournament tomorrow, 18 holes of golf Sunday.
That's right, I'm forgoing watching the Packers to hit the links for possibly the last time until the cruel, bleak WI winter. I'm never quite so "zen" as when I'm on the golf course. I can now see where Steinbeck may have gotten that most eloquent of quips...
Thursday, November 5, 2015
The Underappreciated Greatness of Jeff Scott Soto
I could begin by throwing out a career-spanning overview of Jeff Scott Soto, but I may just be here for a fortnight. Extolling the vast catalogue and genre-jumping of one JSS was covered quite well in The Authorised Biography. Needless to say, JSS career spans thirty years, several styles, and, unfortunately, a lifetime in relative obscurity. Soto has, among others, been involved in the first incarnation of Yngwie Malmsteen (See "I'll See The Light Tonight"), Eyes, Journey (live I'll Be Alright Without You on one hour of rehearsal, mind you), W.E.T., Talisman, Human Clay, Trans-Siberian Orchestra (This Christmas Day - just watch that stage presence!), and, of course, as a solo artist.
Known by many as the "Voice of Hard Rock", Soto has displayed an innate talent to deliver a vocal that fits within many genres. He can easily transition from Prince-like falsetto (4 U) to Soul (Lonely Shade of Blue) to Disco (Lady Marmalade)to metal (End Of Days)to bombastic melodic rock (Look Inside Your Heart).
Next to Mike Portnoy, he may have his hands in more projects than anyone in the hard rock business. After a successful stint with the boys from Work Of Art & Eclipse that culminated in two phenomenal studio albums under the moniker W.E.T., Soto has recently waged war on his metal roots, creating a stand alone metal band called SOTO. His stated current plans are to record three albums successively with SOTO and re-establish his harder side, leaving behind the more melodic overtones of Lost In The Translation and Damage Control.
As a JSS fan, it's quite exciting to have such a breadth of material to listen to. JSS is certainly not one to rest on laurels, much less churn out music for the sake of offering new product. Love Parade & Beautiful Mess were solid adventures that explored the softer, R&B-tinged side of JSS. While LITT & Prism worshipped at the altar of big guitars & bigger vocals. Damage Control, at times, hinted at the SOTO direction, with such rockers as "Damage Control" & "Afraid To Die"
How many have seen the movie "Rock Star" with Mark Wahlberg? What most of you may not know is JSS was the voice of Steel Dragon's original singer Bobby Beers. Here's a taste of the Sammy Hagar-penned "Stand Up And Shout" via Soto. Powerful shit, right? How about that stage presence? A true showman that truly enjoys what he's doing. Based on notoriety, obviously not for accolades, but for the love of delivering great songs time & time again.
At this point, hopefully I've piqued your interest in learning a little bit about Jeff Scott Soto. Aside from the links above, here's a quick top 10 JSS tunes to begin with. I'll trust that you'll take the initiative to explore further... you'll only have yourself to blame if you don't.
Top 10 JSS Tunes (minus above links)in no particular order:
Our Song
If I Fall
Soul Divine
Eyes Of Love
Break Your Chains
Colour My XTC
Love Will Come Again
Frozen & Crazy
Believe In Me
Comes Down Like Rain
This was a quick ode to JSS and my hope is that you, as an avid reader, gives the music contained here within more than a cursory glance. This man could sing the phone book & it would sound like a glorious hymn.
Known by many as the "Voice of Hard Rock", Soto has displayed an innate talent to deliver a vocal that fits within many genres. He can easily transition from Prince-like falsetto (4 U) to Soul (Lonely Shade of Blue) to Disco (Lady Marmalade)to metal (End Of Days)to bombastic melodic rock (Look Inside Your Heart).
Next to Mike Portnoy, he may have his hands in more projects than anyone in the hard rock business. After a successful stint with the boys from Work Of Art & Eclipse that culminated in two phenomenal studio albums under the moniker W.E.T., Soto has recently waged war on his metal roots, creating a stand alone metal band called SOTO. His stated current plans are to record three albums successively with SOTO and re-establish his harder side, leaving behind the more melodic overtones of Lost In The Translation and Damage Control.
As a JSS fan, it's quite exciting to have such a breadth of material to listen to. JSS is certainly not one to rest on laurels, much less churn out music for the sake of offering new product. Love Parade & Beautiful Mess were solid adventures that explored the softer, R&B-tinged side of JSS. While LITT & Prism worshipped at the altar of big guitars & bigger vocals. Damage Control, at times, hinted at the SOTO direction, with such rockers as "Damage Control" & "Afraid To Die"
How many have seen the movie "Rock Star" with Mark Wahlberg? What most of you may not know is JSS was the voice of Steel Dragon's original singer Bobby Beers. Here's a taste of the Sammy Hagar-penned "Stand Up And Shout" via Soto. Powerful shit, right? How about that stage presence? A true showman that truly enjoys what he's doing. Based on notoriety, obviously not for accolades, but for the love of delivering great songs time & time again.
At this point, hopefully I've piqued your interest in learning a little bit about Jeff Scott Soto. Aside from the links above, here's a quick top 10 JSS tunes to begin with. I'll trust that you'll take the initiative to explore further... you'll only have yourself to blame if you don't.
Top 10 JSS Tunes (minus above links)in no particular order:
Our Song
If I Fall
Soul Divine
Eyes Of Love
Break Your Chains
Colour My XTC
Love Will Come Again
Frozen & Crazy
Believe In Me
Comes Down Like Rain
This was a quick ode to JSS and my hope is that you, as an avid reader, gives the music contained here within more than a cursory glance. This man could sing the phone book & it would sound like a glorious hymn.
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