LOVERBOY – Just Getting Started [comeback album] *HQ*

Skepticism is bound to arise anytime a superstar pop/rock band whose commercial peak was decades ago slaps an optimistic title like ”Just Getting Started” on its first studio album in over ten years. But there’s something joyful and inspiring about LOVERBOY re-emerging with fresh material back in 2007 yet feeling no need to update or tweak the classic, high-spirited sound that helped define arena rock in the ’80s.
With the original line up plus new bass player (ex Streetheart Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve) LOVERBOY created a really enjoyable album on ”Just Getting Started”, one you may need to revisit or listen for the first time.
Indeed, it’s ‘almost paradise‘ listening to this powerhouse Canadian fivesome as they ‘work for the weekend‘ again. Having dispensed with the puns based on their biggest collective hit and frontman Mike Reno’s signature duet ballad with Ann Wilson, we can get down to the business of enjoying Loverboy circa 2007. The hard chugging title track has all the elements the band is famous for – blistering guitars, an irresistibly anthemic hook, classic clichés that we can completely forgive (“ain’t over yet,” “finger on the trigger”) and Reno’s unique vocals.

That same, can’t miss crunchy melodic rock formula drives two of the project’s other instant classics, “One of Them Days” and “Lost with You.” The similarly hard-hitting “Stranded” was the song that broke the creative logjam that had held up Reno for years – and the catharsis shows.

But Loverboy wasn’t all just playful bombast and corporate rock hooks. Back in the day, they were also brilliant power tearjerking balladeers, a poignant tradition they carry on here convincingly with “Fade to Black,” the torchy and plaintive “I Would Die for You,” and especially “The One That Got Away,” the disc’s first single that was inspired by Reno’s divorce. Then Def Leppard’s Phil Collen appears on midtempo ”Stranded”, an early Nineties style track bringing to mind Damn Yankees.

Fortunately, Loverboy don’t leave their old fans (and newly curious listeners) high and dry and sad and lonely for long – “As Good as It Gets” is unabashed, uplifting melodic rock romance all the way, a testament to second chances and romantic and spiritual rebirth. Just like the album itself, which is a welcome return to form by a band that’s too much fun to stay skeptical about for long.
Highly Recommended

01 – Just Getting Started
02 – Fade To Black
03 – One Of Them Days
04 – Back For More
05 – Lost With You
06 – I Would Die For You
07 – Real Thing
08 – The One That Got Away
09 – As Good As It Gets
10 – Stranded

Mike Reno – lead vocals
Paul Dean – guitar, backing vocals
Doug Johnson – keyboards
Ken Sinnaeve – bass
Matt Frenette – drums
Phil Collen – backing vocals on “Stranded”
Joani Bye, Kelly Brock – backing vocals

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www.amazon.com/Just-Getting-Started-Loverboy/dp/B000VQXTK6