BOSTON – Life, Love & Hope [SHM-CD Special Tour Edition] +4

Iconic American Classic Rock giants BOSTON returned with the first studio album in over a decade; “Life, Love & Hope“, released at the end of last year. On occasion of the recent Japan tour, Avalon / Marquee Records has put out a “Special Tour Version” including various bonus tracks, a Backstage Pass replica and pressed on a high quality SHM-CD format.

“Life, Love & Hope” is not your father’s Boston, particularly their seminal self-titled debut that astonished the Classic Rock world. No, this is the older, wiser and more mellow Tom Scholz evolving Boston into a more AOR / Melodic Rock beast according to modern times.

Is that a bad thing? Certainly not. Still, the trademark Boston sound is there; you can hear the classic guitar riffs and solos, that touch of piano and organ and the meticulous and lush Scholz production.

Many reviewers have given to “Life, Love & Hope” a poor score. I disagree.
It’s a solid AOR / Melodic Rock record with all Boston’s trademarks intact, and with a breath of a modern touch in songwriting, production and sound. Tom Scholz is cutting his own path, still creating and evolving Boston.

There’s enough quality on offer to buy with a degree of confidence and I think it’s as good as can be expected from the Boston brand in this new century.

Marquee Inc. Japan / Avalon ~ MICP-30057
「Limited Edition」【SHM-CD】

01 – Heaven On Earth
02 – Didn’t Mean To Fall In Love
03 – Last Day Of School
04 – Sail Away
05 – Life, Love & Hope
06 – If You Were In Love
07 – Someday
08 – Love Got Away
09 – Someone (2.0)
10 – You Gave Up On Love (2.0)
11 – The Way You Look Tonight

Bonus Tracks:
12 – Someday (Tom Scholz Vocal Version)
13 – Te Quiero Mia
14 – O Canada
15 – God Rest Ye Metal Gentleman

Tom Scholz – all instruments, lead vocals (Tracks: 7, 8, 9, 10), harmony vox
David Victor – lead vocals (Track 1), harmony vox
Brad Delp – lead vocals (Tracks: 2, 4, 9), harmony vox
Tommy DeCarlo – lead vocals (Tracks: 5, 7, 10, 11)
Gary Pihl – lead guitar (Track 5), harmony vox (Track 8)
Curly Smith – harmonica (Track 7)
Jeff Neal – harmony vox (Track 5)
Beth Cohen – harmony vox (Track 8)
Kimberley Dahme – lead vocals (Tracks: 4, 6, 10), harmony vox, flute (Track 10)

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MICP-30057
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