RTZ ‘Lost & Found’/ DELP & GOUDREAU
Frontiers FRCD220(2004)
RTZ formed around Boston vocalist Brad Delp and former Boston guitarist
Barry Goudreau, releasing one album and another of outtakes ‘Lost’ on
Japanese label Avalon.
This album, ‘Lost and Found’ is tracks recorded prior
to the debut album release and for the most part lacks any real fire, being
very generic AOR/melodic rock. With a voice like Delp’s you do sit up and
take notice but the tunes are for the most part very ‘samey’ with only ‘I’m
On A Roll’ and ‘Rise Above It All’ standing out after a few plays.
However, the Delp & Goudreau album of a few years ago, here getting its European
release, is much better. The sound is more classic 70’s rock, albeit in the
laid back style. Goudreau in particular gets free reign on guitar, laying
down some classy solos like on ‘Let It Roll’ or opener ‘What You Leave
Behind’. They even sound like latter day Blue Oyster Cult on ‘Out Of My
Hands’, a well-crafted piece of music with underlying musical menace so
beloved of BOC.
Vocally Delp has never sounded better and fans of latter day
.38 Special will enjoy this album, as the music is very similar to that
band’s sound.
With two albums for the price of one you can’t go wrong, although ‘Lost &
Found’ is more for the completists.
***
Review by Jason Ritchie
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