Recent Reviews

May 2025

March 2025

February 2025

January 2025

December 2024

November 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Houston: II
Houston II Album Review

Houston: II

AOR/Melodic Rock
4.0/5.0

How does Houston follow up one of the most popular and well-received AOR melodic rock albums of 2010? Serve up more of the same. Their debut raised eyebrows and tickled ears three years ago. Their second effort, simply II, will likely do the same.

Houston II Photo

Houston: not in Texas.

Once more it's Eighties AOR melodic rock deja vu. The emphasis is upon strong melody and harmony, from vocal arrangements to sparkling keyboards to stirring guitar lines and leads. It's a formula that Hank Erix (v), Freddie Allen (d) and new member Ricky Delin (k) along with talents like guitarist Tommy Denander know well and so craft good songs. Actually, if he's providing all the leads here, Denander's presence is perhaps the strongest feature here. But that's not saying much considering there's hardly a weak link anywhere between musicianship and composition. The real question may be this: how does doing the same still stay fresh rather than redundant? With something like Glory and Return My Heart, which are saved by the guitar work, it slips more towards the latter. But they are still very good songs within a collection of strong songs. Alternatively, I'm Coming Home (listen below), Talk to Me, 24 Hours, Losing, and the closer Believe leap from your speakers with unexpected liveliness saying the final chapter hasn't been written on classic AOR melodic rock. But, as said before, that's what Houston does best, and with agility and creativity. If you liked the debut, you'll certain dig debut part two. Recommended.


Houston - I'm Coming Home





CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

In Short

If you liked Houston's debut, then you'll dig the debut part II. Solid and classic AOR melodic rock.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Gotthard: Stereo Crush Album Review

Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]