MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – The Love Goes On

To state this as succinctly and concisely as I possibly can, the Michael Thompson Band is just the thing if one is on the lookout for melodic rock and AOR performed by world-class musicians and superb songwriters as evidenced by the overall quality of The Love Goes On.  

With original vocalist Moon Calhoun back in the fold and a band that sounds energized and incredibly focused, The Love Goes On delivers richly textured and atmospheric compositions that harbor sophisticated arrangements, great hooks, and classy riffs. These gentlemen have the fine art of varying the song material and keeping it interesting and dynamic throughout down to a tee, and although the record is a rather slick and polished affair in terms of its production, it is anything but dull or lifeless. There are plenty of strong and noteworthy tracks to be enjoyed here, but the playful ‘What Keeps You Alive’ and the stirring ‘War of the Hearts’ are undoubtedly its standout moments to these ears.

Although the LP is neither outright adventurous nor original from a purely musical perspective, it packs a hell of a lot more meaning and heartfelt expression than most other AOR releases that I have come across this year. A recommended listening experience.