Yes, the waiting truly is over, at last! Sweet Comfort Band returns 28 years(!) after the release of their last album, "Perfect Timing," and sound as if no time has passed at all. They have not seen fit to "update" their sound to better fit the current musical landscape. That's not a criticism, but a sigh of relief! This is the same great Jazz inflected Rock they were always known for. Fans of Toto, Chicago or Styx will find a lot to enjoy here.
The band is still Bryan Duncan, Randy Thomas and Rick Thomson, with Elijah Thomson filling in for his father, original member Kevin Thomson, who passed away in 2010. Bryan, Randy and Rick all share in songwriting duties, delivering 11 songs that are arguably the best they've ever done. The musicianship and vocals, always stellar, still are.
Highlights for me are "Lay It All On The Line," a fun, jazzy, Donald Fagen influenced tune that serves to "introduce" the band members, and the Toto vibe of "Something Else Is Going On Here," but really the whole album is excellent. At no point did I feel compelled to skip a song.
It's hard to pick an absolute favorite tune here, but if I had to it would be "In The Light Of Heaven," a beautiful song about a loved one (Kevin) who has gone on to be with God. This is a song that will mean a lot to anyone who has lost someone dear to them.
In these days of "musical pablum," real bands that create real music are rare. These guys should have your support. If you're already a fan, you need to pick up "The Waiting Is Over." If you've never heard SCB, check them out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Many thanks to Alice Thomson for the opportunity to hear this album in it's entirety!
You can hear song samples and find out when and where to purchase the album here: http://officialsweetcomfortband.com/subdirectory/?albums=the-waiting-is-over
The album is not for sale just yet, but this will be the website to check out!
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