[.ca] This Way Up

an unknown classic:
If you are a fan of Beatlesque melodic rock and roll you must buy this cd. It is chocked full of great tunes and performances. Ignore the single review by the individual with an obvious agenda and add this to your collection. Here's hoping Molland gives us another like this one soon.

Time For A Reality Check:
I read the rave reviews from other Amazon fans, as well as the one posted on "The All Music Guide" web site, and took the plunge, in spite of the fact that Molland's previous solo efforts were only so-so. Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but this one is only so-so as well. I'm not sorry I got it, because I enjoy collecting all the Badfinger-related items I can get my hands on. But Joey Molland is a talented journeyman, not a genius, and this album isn't going to make anyone forget that the real genius behind Badfinger was Pete Ham, and to a lesser extent, Tom Evans. Molland was and is a pretty good guitar slinger, and his rockier leanings definitely brought a beneficial harder edge to Badfinger. But people (and All Music Guide reviewers) who think this album compares favorably to the better solo albums by people with names like Lennon, McCartney or Harrison are in serious need of a reality check.

Recommended for all Badfinger fans:
It takes Joe Molland a long time to record and release albums, but they are worth the wait. "After the Pearl" was first in 1984, followed by "The Pilgrim" in 1992, now "This Way Up" in 2002. Joe is known among Badfinger fans as the rocker of the group, but he also comes up with some good ballads from time to time. "Isn't That a Dream" is the standout on this CD, and offers a message of hope for our post-911 world. The sound is very similar to the old Badfinger classics, and would've been a hit if released in a more music friendly environment. Radio ignores artists like Molland, but that's no reason for you to! Too bad there's no sound samples here for this CD. "When I Was A Boy" is a slow, moody, almost psycadelic song, while "Three Minute Warning" is a rocker in Chuck Berry style, with great guitar and piano work. "Moonlight" is another standout track, anyone who says Joe can't write a great melody should listen to this one. There's also hints on country ("Tell Me") and 30's/40's pop ("Another Honeymoon"). The weakest track is probably "What Else (Nothing)" which has a decent tune, but Joe's voice sounds shot on it. He's always had a bit of gravel in his voice, and even moreso on this CD, but that's the one track where he seems to struggle with the notes. Guitar, of course, is excellent as always, as is his support band the Echo Boys.

Fans of Molland's Style Will Love This One:
This is the long-awaited new album by Joe(y) Molland. Some songs are well-known by the fans either from Joey's recent live-performances or his "Basil" and "Timeless" CD's. Molland's songs are mostly mainstream catchy pop/rock tunes. The production is at places a bit muddy; and on some songs Joey's voice sounds very strained. The songs are generally good - well constructed and well performed. Fans of Joey Molland's songwriting style will love this album, even though his voice has lost some power over the years. Don't expect it to be Badfinger, but take it for what it is; a solid solo-album from a former member of a unique band that had their heyday, when Pete Ham was still with them. The recordings were done at Echo Boys Studio in Minneapolis and at bassist Mark Healy's Aurora Borealis Studios in Minneapolis. The mixing, mastering and post production were all done and Aurora Borealis. The participating musicians : Joey Molland - Guitars/vocals Randy Anderson - Guitars, Doug Molland - Guitars, Joey Molland III (Joey's Son) - Lead Guitar on What Else, Harry Pulver Jr. - Piano, Bob Milea - Drums, Tom Lecher - Bass, Mark Healy - Bass

BLOWN AWAY-BEST POST BADFINGER CD:
well i have been a fan of badfinger and their music since i was a young teenager and heard "no matter what "when i was fourteen and bought their first 5 albums until i lost contact with their whereabouts until i heard about the tragic death of pete and tom some time later and it wasnt until then that i discovered the other lost albums ie head first etc which i have since then purchased their whole catalog on cd ! i have bought both joeys fist album (the pilgrim) and mike gibbons which whilst both have some good songs are not quite up to the mark compared to their badfinger days ! well "This way up" changes all that ! this is a fine album from joey and has songs that make you want to sing along with him! the first two songs are solid and the second song happy is an up tempo song with a good beat but the album takes off from track 3 this cd is packed with riffs and guitar licks and songs which take me back to the golden badfinger days "Way to be " is a fantastic song and deserves to be played on radio !and "This must be love" Is as good a love song as anything that joey did with badfinger and for me the stand out track is " Angels like us" which would have been a worldwide smash hit if joey had recorded this album some years ago ! and also deserves some airplay most songs are well written and joey and his band have finally put together a great cd which makes you play it again and again 3 minute warning is an up tempo rocker in the best possible foot tapping way! the final track is a gem " Isnt that a dream" is a great rock ballad and just makes you wonder why joey has struggled to make music like this since his early badfinger days another honeymoon is a song i can picture harry nillson or ringo singing in their glory days and i guess thats ironic since nillsons major hit was with a badfinger song "without you" my hat is off to you joey and i am sure both pete and tom would be sitting back and saying " right on joey you finally have realised the talent we knew you had " please joey make more music like this !