Rock of Faith

Artist: John Wetton
Label: Giant Electric Pea
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 766489657028
EAN: 0766489657028
ASIN: B00007MFGJ

Release Date: 2004-09-09

Rock of Faith

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Tracks:

Mondrago
Rock of Faith
New Day
I've Come to Take You Home
Who Will Light a Candle?
Nothing's Gonna Stand in Our Way
Altro Mondo
I Believe in You
Take Me to the Waterline
I Lat Down
When You Were Young

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Album Description

The prog-rock veteran's 2003 solo album. The CD features 11 compositions & marks the first collaboration in many years between Wetton & Asia co-writer Geoff Downes. Additional guests include Clive Nolan (Pendragon, Arena), Hugh McDowell (Electric Light Orchestra), John Mitchell (Arena), Steve Cristey (Jadis), & Martin Orford (IQ). SPV.

Album Details

This CD features 11 Compositions and Marks the First Collaboration for Many Years Between John and Asia Co-writer Geoff Downes. Other Notable Musicians Making Guest Appearances Include Clive Nolan (Pendragon/Arena), Hugh Mcdowell (E.l.o.), John Mitchell (Arena), Steve Christey (Jadis) and Martin Orford (Iq/Jadis).

Customer Reviews:

Admirable solo effort from seasoned veteran vocalist.......2005-12-30

When I think of John Wetton, my thoughts hearken back to the early 80s Asia stadium anthem, Heat of the Moment. To call it a song, is to call Bach just "another classical composer" or the Beatles just "another rock band." Rightly so, Wetton was 1/4th of that 80s supergroup which was equal parts Yes (Steve Howe on guitar), The Buggles (Geoff Downes on keyboards), Emerson Lake & Palmer (Carl Palmer on drums), and King Crimson (John Wetton on vocals and bass).

Part of the chemistry of that line-up was the superlative songwriting of Wetton and Downes. Much like Nirvana in the early 90s. Asia spoke to only a single generation before the various members went their separate ways. They were known for hits describing heartache and general teenage lust. Wetton's trademark impassioned vocals took songs that would have sounded cliché being performed by lesser singers and gave them a heavy dose of credibility... then again Wetton's passionate vocals could give the phone book credibility.

Fast Forward to 2002-- for the first time in over 10 years John Wetton once again found himself writing material with Geoffrey Downes... on the very same piano they used in their heyday in Asia. Wetton's solo catalogue has produced albums worth of anthems which hearken back to his days in Asia, mixing hints of seventies prog-rock with deeply passionate, and more often than not autobiographical, lyrics.

Wetton's latest, Rock of Faith, is no exception. With each listen I find myself growing more attached to this gem of a CD. The highlights of the CD are the two songs co-penned by former Asia bandmate, Geoffrey Downes, I've Come to Take You Home and I Lay Down but truly there are no weak spots on the album. The album is peppered with Eastern European influences, heavenly choirs, Supertramp-esque keyboards and saxophones, and even hints of Beach Boy, Brian Wilson's multi-layered vocal harmonies. The instrumental tracks, Mondrago and Altro Mondo are lush and absolutely beautiful. All-in-all it's a shame that this album goes largely undiscovered due to it's Japanese/European only release-other than his work with Asia and King Crimson, Wetton's solo work is known in the United States only by a handful of very devoted fans.

Who will light a candle . . . .......2005-08-24

. . . just like everything else in Wetton's discography. This'll go out of print in a year or so, be unavailable for a few years, then get rereleased by some label you've never heard of before, then go away again, and on and on.

But while it's here, I offer my thoughts on the album for those who haven't heard it yet, or are desperately searching for one online. This album veers WAY away from Arkangel, Battle Lines, and the arena rock of Mr. Wetton's career up to now, and goes into a total Pink Floyd meets Lacrimosa territory where it isn't really rock anymore, but isn't easy listening, and sits kinda in between categorization.

"Mondrago" gets things started on a total "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" vibe. Fans of the Arkangel album will probably also feel a bit like they're hearing "Circle of St. Giles pt 2." Then we get the utterly depressing title track, with synths that don't exactly push the song, but give it a Sting vibe. The same can be said for the crunch guitars on "A New Day." But I've gotta say; if you're looking for a theme to this album, then two words will sum it up rather well: UTTERLY DEPRESSING. The subject matter is all about knowing you're going to die, and trying to find comfort in one's faith, and trying to enjoy life all the while being haunted and horrified at one's own mortality. This isn't the happy "Heat of the Moment" "Right Where I Wanted to Be" John Wetton. This is the "Starless" and "Rendesvouz 602" John times 1,000. You won't be driving down the highway with windows rolled down on a happy spring day to this cd.

And if you doubt my comparison to Lacrimosa, just listen to the song "Who Will Light a Candle." It's a morbid orchestral requiem number, complete with the mournfull woodwinds, that sounds like it was ripped out of a Lacrimosa album. And the subject matter is, of course, about being forgotten after you die. Then there's the low point of the entire disc, the dreadfull "Nothing's Gonna Stand in Our Way." If you can get past that without killing yourself, congradulations, you should enjoy the rest of the album, as the theme turns more and more religious (and thus, a little less depressing). It even has a few moments that border on rock.

The final three tracks give little glimpses and reminders of why we all loved John in the first place. "Take Me to the Waterline" is classic Wetton. "I Lay Down" reminds me of Astra era Asia. Then the a capella finalle leaves you on an oddly cheerful note, given that by the time you get to these three gems at the end, the rest of the album has sufficiently darkened your mood for the rest of the day. But if you like Floyd-style progrock which should be listened to on headphones, this album is THE album for you.

Most boring album of the year.......2005-01-11

I bought this record because I once admired JW's style and voice, so I was curious to find out what he does today. But sorry, Rock of Faith was wasted money. An album noone needs. Boring 3-chord-string-licks we heard many times before, meaningless sentimental lyrics in which he keeps repeating himself again and again. All in all, an album with no emotion, no love, no real lyrics. Just meaningless blah blah. Maybe Wetton cannot write good music without real good artists like Geoff Downes, Greg Lake, Robert Fripp, or Ken Hensley?

A brilliant performance of reflection.........2004-05-09

Any time that I've been asked to comment on music that has attached itself to me spiritually, I talk about the compositions that John Wetton has created either in previous bands, especially Asia, or from his solo works. These recordings are those which I continually turn to enhance and embrace me in a curtain of security when life seems to overwhelm.'Rock of Faith', with its many themes of hope,loss, and perserverance has added another 'place' in which I visit consistently..
'Mondrago' opens with the toll of a church bell, and what a fitting opening this is as we are transported into a journey of what John's life was and is..As he states in the liner notes, this autobiography always makes me wonder, as I listen to each song, what exactly this man has gone through to create such a heartfelt experience where I feel every bit of pain, sorrow, or optimism that he has. The songs transition extremely well into each other and this adds a consistency that very few recordings can give, almost like a novel that you can't put down. 'Rock of Faith' begins the experience of listening to what John has to say and one needs to focus on the positive message that is conveyed here to appreciate the rest of the album. And what can be said about his cast of players? Geoffrey Downes, Clive Nolan, Martin Orford, John Mitchell, to name only a few. These names to me represent a union and a respectful collaboration of friends that time cannot seperate. It is evident from their contributions to each track that these men have a bond which many of us only hope of finding..After listening to 'I've Come To Take You Home', I see why Geoff Downes and John Wetton began playing together in the first place. The distance of a relationship expressed by this piece always finds its way into my thinking, and when putting it into perspective with my own life, brings many tears. The attractive harmonies of 'I Lay Down' also appeal to the side of me which craves a closer connection with the one I love.
There isn't much that I can criticize about this wonderful album as it has showed me that we all have our own stories to tell about and grow from, and that our experiences, as despairing as some of them have been, can force us to search for better days and people to share them with..

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