I don’t know how heavy the pressure has been for vocalist Tony Mills and guitar player Steve Harris to come up with a worthy follow-up for their mighty comeback album “Unfinished Business” (Z Records, 2002), but to come straight to the point: they have passed with flying colours!
“Sunset And Vine”, named after a famous junction in Los Angeles, is a relaxed Shy album, which offers the listener a set of ten long, but splendid songs, which are once again characterized by Mills’ high-pitched vocals and Harris’s excellent axework. If you liked “Unfinished Business”, then you will definitely like “Sunset And Vine” as well. Although the new CD features a (slightly) different line-up, the songs as well as the performance and the production are of the same high quality. Apart from a small sound problem in the first song (a sudden reduction of sound somewhere in the middle of the song, I hope this problem is solved on the finished product), I can’t complain about the quality of the album as a whole, which will be – in my humble opinion - welcomed by a large amount of Journey fans. Indeed, Mills’ voice sounds so similar to Steve Perry’s that it is almost unbelievable. Conclusion: buy this album from the British version of Journey, you won’t regret it! (CL)
 

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YNGWIEVIKING (on 3/12/07) very GOOD cd ! The best BRITISH AOR band ever ! Even if this one it's not great as "unfinished buisness" ! VERY GOOD ANYWAY   Jez (on 19/04/07) The first thing that i have to comment on here is song lengths-most weighing in at a hefty 6+ minutes, making this cd well over the hour mark for 10 tracks - way too long. The second is that it may be a little one paced for some people, not that much variation. With those two negatives aside,I can still say that this is an excellent slice of Journey styled AOR. The star of this is undoubtedly Steve Harris, whose guitar playing is monumental throughout. Not as good as 'Unfinished' though.   Richy - U.K. (on 15/07/05) SHY follow up the critically acclaimed Unfinished Business with Sunset & Vine. High Time is a superb opening track. Open Your Heart is very Journey influenced and probably my favourite track. Where is the love? is Tony Mills at his passionate best ...and easily as passionate as certain other singer ..you know who I mean! SHY turn on the class and there isn't a poor track on the album. Other great tracks include Don't Jump the Gun & 1st Love - both catchy melodic single type songs. SHY do these songs so well. SHY end on Slowly which is simply superb. Excellent Guitar work. Sunset & Vine has Journey influences. However this is not a Journey copy and I woudn't want that. Comparisons will happe as Tony Mills voice is very similar. However this album is more guitar orientated then Keyboard. I would like more keyboards like Excess All Areas. This a SHY album, and has all the SHY hallmarks - well written songs, great vocals and classic aor, with really classy production and superb guitar work from Steve Harris. On repeated listening Sunset & Vine eclipses Unfinished Business for me and I have to give it top marks. Any criticism - the songs could be shorter - but hey they're great songs. Looking forward to more Classy AOR from SHY. Richy - AOROCK.com (Unoff. SHY site)   Deenfan (on 10/07/05) "High time" is obviously meant to be this album's equivalent to "Unfinished business"'s "Skydiving". If it wasn't I would just say it's a great song, but now I'm forced to add that the "original" was fantastic. "Open your heart" is another great melodic track, possibly among the best on the album. "Soul searching" includes an element from Aldo Nova's "Blood on the bricks"! It doesn't even sound like it's written for this song! It's highly melodic and Mills has put out some Siam-ish lyrics for this one. "Where is the love" isn't just one of the best songs on this album, it's one of the best songs in aor for many many years. Passionate lyrics doesn't harm, and they are brought to you by the best vocal performance on here. "You could be dreaming" is like "Soul searching" a tiny tad monotonous, but good. "Don't jump the gun" is too light for me. Aor should be beautiful and depressing poetry. -But still I really like the even more positive "First love", which just goes to show no rules apply to every condition. It's a happening and enjoyable song! Then we're treated to one of the best aor songs in history. "I'll be home tonight" is almost hectic in its wordiness in the verses, then soothingly calm in the heart wrenchingly beautiful chorus. And this contrast is so firmly rooted in the lyrics that it lifts the whole experience to a new level. This is why I care so much about lyrics. They give the music meaning. Also notice the best harmony vocals on this album. "Walk through fire" is a decent song, and works as a little breather between the two giants of magnificence on the album. 'Cause the next thing to come, bringing the album to an end, is my favourite "Slowly". It starts off with this album's best guitar work, and it's acoustic! It develops into a great theme that will run through the song, adding to its epic feeling. Tony Mills sings so good on this that it almost betters his work on "Where's the love". Another wonderful vocal vs. harmony arrangement. The lyrics are special in a way. Part mellow and longing, part suggestive. Good stuff. The musicianship can't be doubted. Well done, all of you! Steve Harris really likes to play guitar. Apparent both in how much there is of it, and how well it's done. The production is a bit heavy on the treble side, and especially the lead vocals are made to sound too thin. Compare to Siam or Mills latest solo album if you want to hear the difference. This explains why some people have commented on getting tired of the voice after a while. It's not the voice, it's the vocal production. Believe me, if you don't bother to do the comparison. On the whole, it's too little warmth in the production. Crank up the bass end next time, guys. I've got a serious setup, and very little bass is evident here. Most important, though: KEEP 'EM COMING!!!!   cammy (on 12/06/05) great cd. should be in your collection   frontlinerocks (on 23/04/05) VERY solid album and the Japanese bonus track "No way Out" is a nice closing track. (I was actually hoping that it was a cover of the Starship tune) My only criticism of the CD was that the drum production was a bit flat. All in all a superb album which should NOT be missed!   AOR Ive (on 6/04/05) After several listens I have to say that this is probably the third best album Shy has ever released . Ofcourse the classic "Excess all areas" is their best and "Unfinished business" was also a brilliant album . Most of the songs on "Sunset and vine" are just as good as the songs on "Unfinished business" , but there are also 3 songs I can only call good . Still this is for sure a must have for every melodic rock fan .   Gordy (on 2/04/05) I've only just got hold of this, and I have to say, its stunning, even after the first listen.There's not a dull moment on the whole album.   HIBA (on 18/03/05) Music is and will always be a matter of personal opinion, so is the fact is you like Mills or hate him. I think he is a great singer, with a special voice that can be recognized as soon as you hear one tune ! One of the opinions stated was that it's the first decent record they've made, wrong ! "acces all areas" is a classic people. this one is very good, well played and produced, but times to create classics have gone. but this one's coming close !   Joan (on 15/03/05) Got Journey written all over it. Get tired of the voice after a while. It's the best Shy record ever indeed, but still...   AV (on 21/02/05) Had my doubt about this one. I was never a Tony Mills fan, but I must agree on this album his singing is better than ever. Saying that he come close to Steve Perry, that's something else. Mister Perry has much more soul and depth in his voice and there will never be a second Steve. Also gitarist Steve Harris does an exellent job here. Further the songs are great and yes very Journey minded. The production is indeed great. It's a good record and that's the first time in my opinion I can say this for a Shy album.   Gloobey (on 20/02/05) I've been listening to this for a while and, whilst I can't agree with everybody here about just how good this CD is, I must admit that it's OK.   WOLF 359 (on 15/02/05) Now this is more like it . Shy have always had the potential yet have always seemed to just miss the target . But with Sunset & vine it's a bullseye , songs / musicianship / production all have been hit dead centre , to make a simply breathtaking album . BRILLIANT , RECOMMENDED (copyright Dave Cockett / Phil Ashcroft)   Dearc (on 15/02/05) true, it's not really heavy but all songs are really great. it hooks you up right from the start... my favourite (it may change..) : don't jump the gun   AORPOMPY (on 13/02/05) This new Shy is better than expected ! Rumours said it would be a very heavy affair, without a keyboard in sight, but it's not the case. In fact we have a good AOR record here, although they should search an own style. Now it sounds a bit too much like an european version of Journey ! But I love the record, the length of it and the long songs ! Good one !   ***Fiona*** (on 13/02/05) Wow! What can I say…Simply the best SHY album I have heard!! Amazing vocals and guitar ..you will love this exceptional CD from the first time you listen to it!! Usually an album needs a few plays to get into, but this is a favourite from the word go!! Definitely a strong contender for album of 2005.. My favourite tracks keep changing..they are all brilliant..at the moment..it is “Soul Searching” and “Slowly” Get out there and buy this for your collection. A definite must have.. I believe the Japanese import has an extra track..and slightly different sleeve ..worth adding to the collection too. Fantastic..Thank you SHY for this wonderful album..x   Anthony Wild (on 13/02/05) I love everything w/ Tony Mills! Early Shy and Siam....wow! But I love Steve Perry more and Mills has not got the same passion as Perry, but he has got enough!   cradle1scot (on 12/02/05) Superb production indeed. Great songs and very Journey like as Chris said. It has some outstanding songs on it and my favourite is open your heart. If this song does not get the feet tapping when the band comes in together I dont know what will. Shy seem to go from strength to strength and hopefully this will continue for a great number of years yet ;o)   GlenRavine (on 11/02/05) Amazing. Already a contender for 2005 album of the year. Everything from Production to harmony to lyrics to arrangement.

 

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