Glen Burtnik left Styx for the second time last year and is back with a new solo album. I’d heartily recommend his previous solo work as it is full of quality melodic rock and in this new album, ‘Welcome To Hollywood’ it’s probably his best work since the excellent ‘Heroes and Zeroes’.

Lots to enjoy including ‘Super Boy’ with its distorted backing and tabla (there is good use of Eastern instruments and rhythms throughout the album). ‘Kiss Your Ass Goodbye’ gets a revisit having first appeared on Styx’s ‘Cyclorama’ album. Knocks the socks off wannabes like Good Charlotte.

For me when Burtnik sings the quieter songs that he shows his fine vocals off like ‘Cry’ or ‘All That’s Yet To Come’ - simply Burtnik singing on his own. ‘The Muse’ and ‘The Muse (Slight Return)’ features rapping (there are bagpipes if my ears don’t deceive me on the song as well!).

Essential - simple as that!

*****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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***** Out of this world | **** Pretty damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly