CAN'T LOOK AWAY

Trevor Rabin is one of the most prolific musicians to have played with Yes. Born in South Africa, a country that was going through turbulent times during his youth, this young guitarist arrived in England in the late 1970s. His talent spoke for itself.

Shortly after, he joined Yes and released several personal demos that would give rise to what would become 90125. The album was a commercial success and marked a major shift toward a more pop- oriented sound, revitalizing the band's career. However, many longtime fans quickly blamed Rabin for being the architect of this successful musical "debacle."

Big Generator followed, where Rabin's influence was slightly less dominant, allowing the band to relax and fully embrace their new pop direction. Still, many continued to view Rabin as the main driving force behind Yes' transformation. For some, it was a welcome change; For others, it was unthinkable: Rabin became a controversial figure among fans of the classic era.

In response to this split, the band even went on hiatus and released compilations of classic material, partly to remind audiences of their more sophisticated musical past and partly to distance themselves from the constant criticism.

Trevor Rabin became an object of love and hate, but he got undeniable talent as a guitarist, songwriter, and visionary. This album represents his personal farewell to the '80s and a positive outlook for the decades to come.

"Can't Look Away" is Rabin's fourth solo album. He plays almost all the instruments himself, except for the drums on some tracks, where he is joined by his friend from Yes: Alan White on drums and Lou Molino III, and Denny Fongheiser. The album also features lavish production by Bob Ezrin, known for his work with Kiss, Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, David Gilmour, and Peter Gabriel. Rabin had always wanted to work with Ezrin during his time in Yes; this was finally his time.

Musically, Can't Look Away is a progressive pop album with elements of hard rock: beautifully written, masterfully executed, with impeccable production and excellent sound. It feels much less processed and overproduced than Big Generator, offering something more raw and organic. The album includes standout tracks like the title track, "Can't Look Away," especially "Something to Hold On To," which feels like a spiritual sequel to "Love Will Find a Way" and in Sorrow (Your Heart) my personal favorite of the record acoustic song with hints of modern prog- folk. Other songs on the album embrace glam, such as "Cover Up" and "Promises," hard rock in "Eyes of Love," pop in "I Didn't Think It Would Last," and the emotional pop ballad "Hold On to Me." There's even a touch of pop-prog in "I Miss You Now." Additionally, the album includes three instrumental tracks: "Etoile Noire," "The Sludge," and "The Cape," where Rabin fully demonstrates his guitar skills, confirming his talent not only as a songwriter but also as a serious musician.

This album is everything Trevor Rabin could offer to bid farewell to his most successful decade, proving that he's not only an impressive guitarist, but also a great singer, a talented songwriter, and a visionary musician. Can't Look Away is an interesting album that gained attention thanks to the success of Yes in the '80s, but it stands on its own thanks to the strength of its compositions. Musically, it moves away from the Yes sound and moves closer to bands like Journey or Toto, very well crafted and polished. Personally, I came to this album because of Yes, and it was a pleasant surprise. Despite the passage of time, it has aged remarkably well.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Stoneburner
• Report this review (#3191332)
• Buy TREVOR RABIN music online with PA partners
• Show all TREVOR RABIN MP3/Stream
• Go to TREVOR RABIN page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Can't Look Away page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for TREVOR RABIN related discussions