What we have here is an album we have been looking forward to adding to our collection for quite some time and one that could well mark the real return of AOR/melodic rock to the forefront of today’s music scene.
This is an absolute gem and one can only wonder where these 2 brothers have been hiding all these years. And therefore the fact that Robbie and Brian La Blanc have never come to the fore in the past can truly be called a mystery. But that doesn’t mean they are absolute newcomers to the world of melodic rock. They have already lend their talents to Rupert Holmes, Bobby Kimball, Michael Bolton and Ronnie Spector to name a few and in 2003 Robbie handled some vocals during a gig by Toto.
And all this studio and live experience has now been used to create the first ever Blanc Faces album.
From finish to start this is one collection of songs that blows you away with each listen. Quality stuff indeed! Both the song material and the production are of an extremely high level and these days albums of this particular kind are only rarely delivered by artists of our beloved genre.
When listening to this disc, various names of big time classic acts in the melodic rock/AOR field will pop into your mind so the material on offer can hardly be called original. But is brought to us with so much class that you can only give it 2 thumbs up.
Musically it reminds me of the kind of drive once delivered by the legendary Survivor, while the vocals of Robbie La Blanc aren’t a million miles away from those of mister Stan Bush. I’ve said it before and I can’t help but say it again: it’s unbelievable that a man with a set of tonsils like Robbie hasn’t been able to make a name for himself over the past years. An amazing talent if you ask me and on top of that he also handled rhythm guitar duties! Brother Brian took care of the bass guitar parts, background vocals, percussion, and some additional rhythm guitar and keyboards. Together they wrote all the songs and produced the album, so there’s obviously no lack of talent when it comes to these 2 gentlemen.
The excellent lead guitar fire works come courtesy of Butch Taylor however, while Kyle Woodring (known for his work with Dennis De Young/ Styx, Survivor and John Mellencamp) occupied the drum stool. The band’s sound is completed by the keyboards of Jeff Batter.
Everything about this album reeks of quality and that is truly a rare thing these days. So without any form of hesitation I award this gem with the highest score! (AV)
 

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Jez (on 19/04/07) Back to the glory days of Survivor & Foreigner with this one & a very good release indeed. It still ain't perfect though as it does die a little in the middle somewhat, although it ends on a high with my personal fave 'We Will Rise'. I still think this disc was overhyped at the time, although it was one of the better AOR discs from another poor year.   Mr.Valdes (on 26/01/06) One of the best AOR debut albums since Pride Of Lions. If you like this kind of music you NEED this one.   Modulator (on 22/01/06) Very easy for listening. Good songs,good voice,good production. True melodic rock!   aorsongmachine (on 2/01/06) Excellent album. Not all the songs reach the same level but there is lots of great material on this cd. I think of songs linke Here's to you, We'll make the best of, It's a little too late, Where do I go from here and Beneath this heart. One for my top 3 of 2005.   HIBA (on 6/09/05) With six reviews I read rating the highest possible and the discussion this album has lifted on the forum, I couldn't stay behind to listen to and eventually buy the album. Bad choice !? No way, this is a great album, in the 80's vein. Sad thing is I seem to miss a killer track on this one, you know, a song you wanna listen to over and over and makes an album a classic, that's the problem these days I think...   ChrisHolmes (on 4/09/05) A great record indeed but no my favorite of 2005. Any melodic rock fan will love this :) Check it   Gordy (on 25/08/05) This is a real gem of a record - after just one listen I was addicted to its wonderful uplifting sound and sweet melodies, and the singer is just fantastic. This is AOR of the highest calibre in this modern age, so dont hesitate to buy this if you are an AOR fan.   djaor (on 3/08/05) WORDS FOR WHAT !!!! A PERFECT ALBUM WITH A SUPERB MUSICS !!! BUY IT NOW !!! www.rockzone.org   AOR Ive (on 1/08/05) I listened to this album 4 times the last week and I have to say it's an awesome album , with only classy songs on it and Robbie La Blanc has got one hell of a voice . This one will end up very high in my top 10 of 2005 , but if I have to choose between Blanc Faces and Gotthard , I would slightly prefer Gotthard .   Herzel (on 17/07/05) AOR gem! Nowadays is very hard to listen AOR in this level of sound and production. The Best newcomer of the year so far! Gloobey: If don't like AOR, don't give your opinion, besides you haven't heard the full album. Like AORPOMPY said, it's stupid.   stevevai111 (on 16/07/05) One of the best releases of the year in genre of aor. Almost perfect... I didn't think it would be so amazing. It is in my player every day.   Xabofar (on 14/07/05) Yes indeed, Blanc Faces is the new "face" of the Leblanc Brothers who released a truly classic aor/west coast effort in 1985 as FURY Check out http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~takeito/fury.html Otherwise this album is really good and possibly one of the top five releases of the year.   AORPOMPY (on 12/07/05) Gloobey : I find it stupid to give a rating if you even haven't heard the full album ! STUPID !!! This is a class AOR, as good as we can expect these days. Not on the same level as say Mecca or Signal or as the stuff from the eighties, but still worth a lot of attention and RESPECT ! Respect for the guts these guys have to release such a record in these anti-AOR days ! HAIL AOR !!!! A MUST HAVE ! BUY OR DIE !!!   melodic rocks (on 9/07/05) Wow......this album...I think I´ve made a trip through times.......I must be back in the heydays of melodic rock and AOR.....what´s this....1989 or 1991 ...? Great release, reminding me of Survivor, the better Pride of Lions songs, Canadian melodic rock acts ( Wall of Silence, The Works, Metropolis, Fury ( the band lead by the same Lablanc brothers ?) ) Stan Bush and the early solo stuff of John Parr, Tommy Kimmel a.o.. Fantastic vocals, strong melodies ( too much of the same sometimes....), open production....one of the better melodic releases this year .   Joan (on 8/07/05) I challenge all bands to come up with a better album this year. What a year that would make... Until that happens, this'll get the full 6 from me.   marciotex (on 5/07/05) does american playing aor music today? simply awesome!! very good album indeed!! it roxxxx - it kikz az!!   scribbly (on 5/07/05) These guys used to be the band FURY, who released a one-off album in 1985. This was not mentioned on Frontiers bio sheet. One up for the AOR Trainspotters! Good album, sound more like Bad Company (Brian Howe era) to me.   GlenRavine (on 4/07/05) Really do I have to say anything - awesome.   WOLF 359 (on 3/07/05) I can see where Gloobey is coming from , there is no such thing as a perfect album . Though i will admit that Blanc Faces comes close . Yet as everyone is saying , they rely on sounding like other classic AOR bands , though this works to a great extent it also lacks any originality that the band may have brought to the table . Still it is good to hear an AOR album this well done . In this day and age , i feel we need more bands like this if the AOR genre is going to survive .   Ton (on 2/07/05) Everything mentioned already. The best Survivorsound for many years. Some highlights: Beneath this heart (very Survivor), Here's to you, Stranger to love. No fillers, but Sorry for the heartache is less interesting.Just very enjoyable aor. Immediatly buy by Georg. And please don't give your opinion if you listened the whole album (Gloobey).   SDR (on 2/07/05) Best AOR release of the year so far, and trust me, my wife is always right.   CL (on 2/07/05) Contrary to Gloobey - who BTW hasn't heard the full album - I fully agree with our editor AV. Not many great AOR albums are getting released these days, but this is surely one that stands out. AOR album of the year (so far). Don't miss about this one!   Gloobey (on 2/07/05) I have not heard this release and I quite frankly have no desire to - but six stars? SIX STARS....? A while back you instigated a new rating scale to stop this happening...and nothing has changed! In the last couple of weeks you have had a number of albums that have been given full marks for musical perfection. Now, one of two things is happening. Either we are living through an incredibly exceptional period where musical ability is at an all time high - not very likely - or you've begun chucking ridiculous scores about again - far more likely... GET A GRIP, PEOPLE!!!!!

 

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