Band : John Waite
Album title : In Real Time
Label : Frontiers Records
Distributor : Rough Trade Benelux
Release Date : 14/05/2010
Release : CD

It seems Frontiers Records is releasing one live album after the other.  This time it's John Waite who does us the honors. Most of you will know John Waite by his gigantic hit "Missing You", but before that he recorded 5 albums with The Babys, and continued his outstanding career in the late 80's with supergroup Bad English.

What's so particular about John Waite is his voice.  Not that he's an extraordinary vocalist, but his voice is utterly special because it blends emotion with melancholy.  OK, at times it may sound a bit nasal, but it befits the music. What about the album.  Well it's good AOR music, as could be expected from him.  He's only accompanied by a guitarist, a drummer and a bass player, so expect no keys on this album. It must be stated that the ballads are somewhat more prominent on this album, not that the harder stuff is completely forgotten, but that said, this guy knows how to write and perform a ballad like no other.

Currently John Waite is working on a new studio album, announced for later this year.  I wonder if he will be able to match his previous work, since lately he's been lingering on his old successes. As with most live albums, I wouldn't buy it unless I had won Euro millions and would be able to buy all stuff that's coming out nowadays.

65/100

Erik Morren.