Jeff Scott Soto
Damage Control

American singer Jeff Scott Soto has done a lot during his career, singing for bands like Talisman, Journey, Yngwie Malmsteen, W.E.T. and lots more than that and now it is time for Damage Control. Not really but Damage Control is the name of Soto’s fifth studio album under his own name and whatever it is if you count bands he has been singing for. His live album from Firefest was quite likeable I think and the W.E.T. album was rather brilliant, so there is a bit to live up to for this guy who doesn’t really need any presentation, just check that place called wikipedia at all the albums he has been part of, he has been part of Journey for gods sake. But we are not talking about history now but this new album called Damage Control, it has a cover that isn’t too interesting and it is as already stated his fifth album and I have listened to it now, lots of times.

It is a melodic rock album with quite a bit of energy, many songs are uptempo. Catchy choruses and a clean modern production. Jeff’s voice is not the typical AOR voice, he has more power or character in his voice, I think that he sounds quite good on this album. The production and sound can also be said to be quite large in terms that is a big sound with many layers. The sound is a bit genre typical though and it is adequate for what it is, not better than any other modern AOR production. The album comes as both a regular edition and a special one, the special one has some bonus tracks that are marked with an asterisk in the track list. The regular edition has eleven tracks and the special one has three more, the regular edition plays for 47 and a half minute and I think we could imagine that with the bonus tracks it will be ten minutes longer playing time.

I think this album starts out really well with Give a Little More and the title track, even the third track is good and the same can be said about the following tracks as well. There is no real weak tracks on the album which is a solid one that holds a high level, It is a likeable album I would say. At the same time though it leaves me sort of asking, isn’t it anything more to this. Jeff in W.E.T. was brilliant and so was the band and album, the production on that album was not as powerful as this one but it is an album with great songs and maybe that is what is missing, the solid hit songs, that something that grabs you because for me there is nothing that really grabs me. So I would say that the weakness of this album is that it is an album that doesn’t really stand out and that it is worse than earlier things he has been part of. So the main problem is that this album is worse than earlier works that Soto has been part of so for me it is a bit of a disappointment. It is a good album despite all my small issues, just not as good as I hoped it would be and as I know Soto is able to be.

In the end I would say that it is a good album, energetic and good with very good songs and sound and vocals. But at the same time it doesn’t leave any lasting impression in my mind and compared to things Soto has done before it is a bit underwhelming. But if you are a fan of Soto you should look into this album and I am sure most of you who listen to this album will like it a lot. But if you ask me about advice on getting Damage Control, I say buy W.E.T.