 SOUL
SIRKUS
World Play
Soul Sirkus Records 2004
www.soulsirkus.com
Read the Jeff Scott Soto interview
What’s the 4-1-1?
Soul SirkUs was born out of the ashes of Planet US, a band that originally
featured Schon & Castronovo from Journey and Sammy Hagar & Michael
Anthony from Van Halen (pretty sure Joe Satriani had a hand in too).
After Hagar and Anthony
left to return to Van Halen, Jeff Scott Soto and Marco Mendoza jumped
aboard. Thanks to the Internet, word about the band spread like wildfire.
In December
2004 World Play was made available exclusively at the bands website.
In early 2005, it was released world-wide.
Genre
Hard rock / melodic rock
The Good
“Highest Ground” is led by a fist pounding riff that never lets up.
The backing vocals and lead vocals really come together on the chorus. A super-charged
rhythm sets the pace for “New Position”. Neil Schon’s guitar
work on this one shows that he’s been a closet shredder all these years. “Another
World” combines wailing guitar licks and marching drum beats to create
a post-apocalyptic feel, at least to me. It’s like Jeff Scott Soto is trying
to inspire hope when all is lost. Warm keyboard tones and melodic guitar work
dominate the emotional ballad “Soul Goes On”. Soto has always been
at his best when he cuts a ballad. Creepy riffs and creepy drums drive home the
theme of “Peephole”. It’s no surprise that Sammy Hagar co-wrote
this one. Even creepier is that Soto comes off sounding just like him.
Maybe I’ve listened to too many CDs this week, but the vocal melody
to “Periled Divide” sound very similar to the one used in “Another
World”. Schon is up to some more fancy fretwork on “Praise”.
This track is about worshiping the female form. There’s more female admiration
on the down-tuned track “My Sanctuary”. By now you’ll discover
the same thing I did; Jeff Scott Soto is one of the best rock voices out there.
It’s a same he gets so little acknowledgement in the U.S. “Coming
Home” is another heartfelt ballad that could pass for a long lost Journey
track.
The Bad
Nothing
The Verdict
One word: phenomenal!
Did You Know?
Jeff Scott Soto provided the vocals for Mark Wahlberg’s character in the
movie Rock Star.
Rating:  out
of 5
Related Reviews:
Neal Schon - I On U
Jeff Scott Soto - Lost in the Translation
Talisman - World's Best Kept Secret
Ring of Fire - Lapse of Reality
--George Dionne
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