FERGIE FREDERIKSEN

HAPPINESS IS THE ROAD

FRONTIERS RECORDS

RELEASED October 2011

Toto meets Journey feel good melodic rock, for fans of the genre only.

Some albums are enjoyable, well- constructed, nicely written and full of all the components that should go to make a great album and yet still somehow fail to satisfy. On paper this is a great album, accomplished players, a great vocalist in Frederiksen, some great writers and some nice sweeping hooks, in a way I’m reminded of Nelson, and maybe John Farnham but here there’s a lack of that really killer song that once it’s hooked you can often make you re-evaluate an entire album.

It would be disingenuous to call this all filler though it’s just that nothing really stands above the rest. Songs like ‘First To Cry’ almost get there with the Bon Jovi-like  hook, but it’s just a little underdone. Maybe I’m just not in the mood for melody today? Maybe it’s just the downside of listening to so many excellent Frontiers releases so far this year? 

Whilst Fredericksen’s vocals throughout are impeccable: In truth this one missed the mark for me overall. Highlights include: “Follow Your Heart” a nicely done if a little undersold ballad that strikes a Journey-like chord.  The title track itself is uplifting but kind of lost half way in. “Lyin’ Eyes” is a nice mid-tempo song too. And we almost get going with the harder “Writing on the Wall” but still it’s all smoulder and no fire.

Fans won’t be able to fault this, but with a number of great Melodic albums out already this year it’s hard to see this not getting lost in the crowd.

By Jo Rockpit