Open Road
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Category: Music CD
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CD Details
Performer: Gary BarlowEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1998-01-13
Music Label: Arista Records/Sbme
Soundtracks:
- Love Won't Wait
- So Help Me Girl
- My Commitment
- Hang on in There Baby
- Are You Ready Now
- Everthing I Ever Wanted
- I Fall So Deep
- Lay Down for Love
- Forever Love
- Never Know
- Open Road
- Always
Music reviews of Open Road
Music Review: "Back For A Few Minutes At Least"
Rating: 3 Stars
First impression: without the other four guys to tell him "Oh Gaz, that's great stuff!" or, "Gaz that song's just awful," Gary Barlow doesn't know any better and puts out some of both. "Open Road" is an OK cd, but merely ok. Nothing on this album compares to Barlow's best stuff, namely what is on Take That's final original album, "Nobody Else": songs like "Back For Good." Gaz has said repeatedly his new music is more mature and pure, and to prove it he released his first solo single, "Forever Love," having touted it's a beautiful song showcasing just his voice and the sound of the piano. That's all very well and good, but that can't make up for the fact that "Forever Love" is boring as heck. It's just one of many tracks on this album which go overboard in being super-inspirational and/or just plain insipid. There are a multitude of rather sickly love songs with forgettable lyrics and melodies, and the best songs on the album aren't really his. "So Help Me Girl" is an old country song, "Love Won't Wait" an old Madonna song. Gaz's superb voice and tweaks to them add much, but it saddens me to consider the rest, the songs written totally by Barlow are just not up to snuff. "Superhero" and "Open Road" are decent, and "I Fall So Deep" is more memorable than most of the other tracks. But on the whole, there is a feeling of blandness to this album. Gary Barlow wants to be the new George Michael, but as was once said in a professional review, he's coming off more like the new Barry Manilow. I would say only "Love Won't Wait" is a bona fide pop song, the rest is a mix of easy listening ballads and love songs that are more or less forgettable. I often wonder why people thought Gary would have a huge solo success. He wrote great pop songs for Take That, has a dextrous and soothing voice, and good looks. But he also has almost no charisma, and it really shows in this music. Unlike master showman/showoff Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow doesn't get into his performances at all. I recall him singing this Madonna song at a concert and merely tapping his foot and clapping his hands a little. Come on Gaz.. As you listen to these songs you get the feeling Gary is inspiring himself, and he's very moved and emotional in the studio. But as usual, he never projects that feeling further than the sound booth, and he never really tries beyond saying he's committed or finding his path, a superhero etc. "Open Road" is a closed route peppered with lovely covers and some reminders that Gary Barlow has great talent, but it's talent squandered in an album that strays from what Gaz did/does best. Gary Barlow sacrifices mainstream success for an artistic maturity that estranges him from the everyday listener and doesn't come off the right way. I'd applaud him and be content with that if I thought that's what he wanted. But I don't think it is, so I can only be annoyed. An ok effort, and an ok album, but not the stuff great careers are made off.
Description of Open Road
The Take That frontman's 1997 solo album debut. RCA.Pop CDs
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