LISTEN

Jordan Rudess is definitely an extremely talented keyboard player. I know. I've seen him in concert. And he shows that he is talented on this album. What he does not show here is that he is a particularly great songwriter.

The keyboard parts on this album, especially on the more upbeat songs, are fantastic. Although Rudess on this album shows a tendency to sound more than a little like Rick wakeman, both in tone and in style (except for Boogie Wacky Woogie, where he sounds more like Keith Emerson). This can be forgiven, as this was his first album.

What is harder to forgive is the blandness of the vocal melodies, particularly on the ballads. A guy as talented as this should just shut up and play the synth.