SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

Coming back after a ten-year break since their last album, Rick and the band re-set and revert back to a sound and style closer to their classic days, but again, with more of an easy-going jazz and blues feel throughout blending with Rick's smooth melodies. Rick brings Mark Hart (guitar,keyboards,vocals) and Lee Thornburg (trumpet, trombone, vocals), who had played on their last tour, into the band to round out their sound. Here we get a variety of wonderful songs, ranging from the catchy pop of You Win I Lose to the Santana-like Latin Jazz of Sooner or Later, the slow swing of Get Your Act Together to the bluesy Help Me Down That Road, The rock-funk of C'est What? to what almost seems like a lost Randy Newman song in Where There's a Will. The only missteps here are the sappy love song Live to Love You, and the choice to open the album with the nearly 10-min It's a Hard World, which is not a bad song, but it takes forever to get started, goes on too long, and just doesn't work as an opening track to the album. Overall, a really good album, well worth checking out. Best tracks: You Win I Lose, Sooner or Later, C'est What?, Some Things Never Change, Get Your Act Together. Weak tracks:Live to Love You, It's A Hard World (too long, poor opener). Rating 3.5 stars