Band : Brian Howe
Album title : Circus Bar
Label : Frontiers Records
Distributor : Frontiers Records - Rough Trade Benelux.
Release Date : 26/02/2010
Release : CD

Brian Howe started his career in 1983 as lead vocalist on Ted Nugent's "Penetrator" album.  After which he became the front man in 1984 in Bad Company, replacing Paul Rodgers.  He stayed with Bad Company for the following ten years, releasing some highly successful albums with them.
Besides a previous solo album, released some 13 years ago "Tangled In Blue" (which was later renamed "Touch" in Europe) it all became rather quiet around Brian Howe.

Now however he strikes back with a second solo album.  The songs were for the major part written during a stay at Lake Atitlan - Guatemala, in the company of Brooks Passcgal (ex Sullivan).  Now if it had something to do with the altitude they were on, or was there something in the water I don't know, but nearly all tracks are killers.
Besides the new material there are also two covers from Bad Company songs on the album - "How About That" and "Holy Water" but these versions add nothing to the originals.
Musically this album makes me think of Bad Company, Foreigner, Kansas, in short bands which in the eighties put out some very nice albums.

75/100

Erik Morren.