CIRCA: 2007

I admire and respect Billy Sherwood, but much of his music is marked by what I can only describe as a bland sameness. There's a reasonable amount of compositional variety on his solo albums, as well as albums by World Trade and Circa:, but somehow, even his different songs often sound the same. Fortunately, there are exceptions, such as The Big Peace and some of the material he wrote with Chris Squire. But unfortunately, Circa: 2007 fits the pattern, despite the fact that former Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin co-wrote two songs, and even though the rest of Circa: (guitarist Jimmy Haun, Yes drummer Alan White, and onetime Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye) are listed as co-writers on the whole album.

"Cut the Ties" is a nice-enough opening song whose ending echoes Rabin's "Love Will Find a Way." But "Don't Let Go" plods too much for a second song. "Together We Are" and "Keeper of the Flame" are ponderous, and aren't really that distinct from "Don't Let Go." For what it's worth, I wouldn't've guessed that either "Don't Let Go" or "Look Inside" were the songs Rabin was involved in writing.

There are some bright spots. "Brotherhood of Man" is novel, and despite its length, it doesn't seem unnecessary long - - a criticism it would be fair to level at most songs on Circa: 2007. "Information Overload" is also unique and catchy. Its lyrics are a bit trite, but poetry was never Sherwood's forté.

Sherwood's expertise is in making records happen and making them sound good, and he certainly delivers here: Circa: 2007 brings together an impressive array of musicians, and it sounds great. Naturally, the performances are very good; Haun is impressive throughout, and especially on "Trust in Something." Sherwood himself does a good job with the bass, and although we know that he can play like Chris Squire, he doesn't do that much here at all. The vocals are Sherwood, no more and no less: they're nothing earth-shattering, but they don't detract from the songs either. And as usual, his multitracked backing vocals are well done (White and Haun are also credited with singing backup).

The production is credited to the band, but Sherwood is listed as having recorded, engineered and mixed Circa: 2007 - - which is probably tantamount to his having really been the producer. It doesn't hurt that he enlisted Joe Gastwirt to do the mastering.

But ultimately, the compositions are pedestrian. Circa: 2007 is not a bad album, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone other than fans of Billy Sherwood or Yes. I'd suggest starting with Sherwoods's solo debut, The Big Peace, or with Yes's Open Your Eyes.