For their fifth album,
Silent Scream
, songwriters
Gary West
(vocals) and
Van McLain
(guitar) finally produced a collection of tracks worthy of their 1979 self-titled debut. Although on
,
Shooting Star
departs from their classic rock beginnings, the duo came through with a set of strong, memorable melodies and some of the band's most heartfelt material. In addition,
McLain
and
West
showed a sense of lyrical maturity and focus which was lacking on previous efforts, and all of the tracks here are inspired and delivered with equal parts emotional intensity and genuine sincerity. The sweeping
"Somewhere in Your Heart"
is illustrative of the duo's ability to write compelling music which can touch the listener without resorting to the over-sentimentality which plagues so much of contemporary pop music. The lyrics here speak of appreciation and self understanding and are wrapped within one of the discs more diverse arrangements. While the churning
"Don't Stop Me Now,"
and the anthemic
"When You're Young,"
capture the angst of youth beautifully, the centerpiece of the record is the charming
"Little by Little."
What is most striking about this track is the hummable melody and the lyrical sense of hope. Like many of the songs here,
"Little by Little"
still finds the silver lining. The catchy
"I'm Getting Out"
is another fine example of the positive lyrical approach the duo opted for on
. Unlike their angst-ridden counterparts of the late '80s and '90s,
is able to address serious themes and still leave the listener with a hopeful message.
shows a more polished
, due in large part to veteran producers
Ron Nevison
(
Heart
Survivor
Jefferson Starship
, etc.) and
Greg Ladanyi
Jackson Browne
Don Henley
Warren Zevon
, etc.), who were brought in to ensure that radio-friendly tracks were available.
Nevison
Ladanyi
, whose production savvy is evident throughout, were also responsible for helping to contemporize the
sound.
represents the best of the pop/rock genre of the time and remains as listenable today as when it was released. While the album failed to produce any Top 40 singles,
"Summer Sun,"
"Heat of the Night,"
all had the potential to crack the charts. Interestingly, the paradoxical album title today is also quite metaphorical.
has been out of print for quite some time, however, there are rumors that the entire
catalog is due to be released on compact disc in the near future. If the transfer to disc is done well,
should not be missed. ~ Jeri Montesano