 Heaven & Earth
featuring Stuart Smith
S/T
Blackstar Records 2004
www.heavenandearthband.com
Read the Stuart Smith-Kelly Hansen Interview
Special guests: Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow), Bobby
Kimball (Toto), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Carmine Appice (King Kobra among
many), Steve Priest (Sweet), and Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot).
What’s
the 4-1-1?
Heaven & Earth is a blues based rock and roll band that was originally formed
in 1996 by British guitarist Stuart Smith after being offered a record deal by
Samsung to record a solo album. After the release of 1999’s Stuart Smith’s
Heaven and Earth, Smith and Co. followed it up in 2001 with Windows to the World
for Frontiers Records. In 2004, the group released a limited edition EP entitled
A Taste of Heaven & Earth which featured four new tracks with Paul Shortino
(Rough Cutt) and four songs from their 1999 debut album (read
CD review). In
late 2004, Heaven & Earth reorganized and are hard at work on a new release
for 2005 entitled Screaming for Redemption. In the meantime, Stuart Smith secured
the rights to the original debut album has re-released it through the groups
new label, Blackstar Records.
Genre
Melodic rock / classic rock / blues rock
The Good
Kelly Hansen reaches down deep for his strong vocal performance on “Don’t
Keep Me Waiting”. The track is loaded with seventies style keyboard tones
and piercing solo work by Stuart Smith. Rock journeyman Joe Lynn Turner appears
on three tracks. “Still Got the Blues”, a pure blues track that
has Stuart flexing his classical guitar skills a la Richie Blackmore, while
JLT shows that he’s on top of his game with raw and emotional vocals. “It’s
Got to Be Love” has JLT being backed up by familiar Rainbow-like keyboard
melodies and a brass section. He delivers a great line to conclude the chorus:
you know I hate you so much /its got be love. More classical guitar reigns
supreme on “Shadow of the Tyburn Tree”. Is that a pan flute I hear?
It does fit appropriately with the songs 15th Century theme.
Stuart’s fretwork takes a back seat to warm keyboard riffing on “Life
on the Line”, but he cuts loose when it comes to the break. Bobby Kimball
handles vocals duties. Kelly Hansen returns for the power ballad “Do
You Ever Think About Me”. It’s just Kelly’s smooth vocals
and a somber drumbeat during the verses, but it’s not long before Stuart
comes in with the riffs. Kelly brings it up a notch to put the chorus over-the-top.
Hansen switches gears on “Trouble in Paradise”. This time he’s
backed by a bluesy, boogie-woogie beat, complete with pounding piano keys and
heavy riffs. Smith pulls off some great improvised guitar licks. “Howlin’ at
the Moon” features the weathered vocals of Paul Shortino. The meaty hooks
really compliment his voice. The Bad
Nothing
The Verdict
Blues-based hard rock has been missing from the musical landscape for a longtime.
Fortunately, Heaven & Earth are here to fill that void with their near
perfect compositions and collaborations.
Did You Know?
Kelly Hansen was the frontman for the eighties metal band Hurricane.
Rating:  out
of 5
Related Reviews:
Heaven & Earth - A Taste of Heaven
EP
Joe Lynn Turner - The Usual Suspects
Glen Huges - Soulfully Live
Glen Huges - Soul Mover
Various Artists - Harder and Heavier
--George Dionne
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