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SHY ‘Unfinished Business’ (Z Records 2002)
Great to see this band back in action! I still remember buying their
debut album when I was at school. Their last album with Tony Mills was back
in 1989. The line-up here features original members Tony Mills (vocals),
Steve Harris (guitars) and Paddy McKenna (keyboards). Joining them is Roy
Davis on bass and Bob Richards on drums.
‘Skydiving’ opens the album on an upbeat note - crisp guitars and
underlying keyboards and great to hear Tony Mills’ voice again! A great
melodic rocker - catchy hook, crunching guitars, harmony vocals - the best
song on the album. ‘Change of Direction’ features a helium powered vocal
coupled with some heavy guitar riffing. But the melody is key, as it is on
all the songs on this album. ‘Breakaway’ features some stunning guitar
soloing and the song fairly gallops along. ‘Mary-Anne’ slows the pace down,
being a mid-paced ballad with biting guitar - the sort of song Journey
should be doing. It is also marks another stunning vocal performance from
Tony Mills. ‘Communicate’ showcases Steve Harris’s guitar playing - nice and
heavy! The guitars are high up in the mix but not as to drown out the vocals
or keyboards. Album closer, ‘No Other Way’ rounds the album off on a high
note. It’s a catchy mid-tempo rocker and although it clocks in at over seven
minutes it does not outstay it’s welcome.
Welcome back Shy! A great melodic rock album, which has a modern sound,
great tunes and it doesn’t rehash past glories. A must for fans of melodic
rock - you won’t be disappointed. They play the Rocktober festival in
October in Manchester - get along if you can.
*****
Review by Jason Ritchie
Z Records
10 Questions with...
£13.99
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