BLUE TEARS, after finally getting released the recorded material for their second album that never crystallzed back in 1991 – the two volumes we featured yesterday ‘Dancin’ On The Back Streets’ and ‘Mad, Bad & Dangerous’ – made an arrangement with AOR Heaven Records for a new album.
Titled “The Innocent Ones“, and released in 2006 in the midst on the melodic hard rock / AOR resurgence, BLUE TEARS’ comeback was received with open arms by all fans from the genre. Here’s as requested the CD now out of print and hard to find.
After all these years, leader Gregg Fulkerson’s voice acquired a certain raspiness with age, and BLUE TEARS music evolved into a more mature, classic rock sound. Think Nineties Bon Jovi meets Jim Peterik. There’s much more acoustic guitar in the mix than before, but if there’s something BLUE TEARS didn’t lost is the catchy songwriting.
Yeah, maybe not a party / feel-good vibe anymore, but the arena-sized choruses are still here all over “The Innocent Ones”. Fulkerson was an expert for hooks and melodies, and you’ll find both in abundance here.
As expected, ”The Innocent Ones” is a different album than its 1990 self-titled predecessor, so it may be best to view this album as coming from a new band – Fulkerson is the only founding member in this recording. Still, we are very pleased with the lyrics and the music on this album. Even with their debut album, Blue Tears songs are very positive, and often tell a personal story. The same holds true on this album; no changes there.
We can always appreciate a rock band (especially one of Blue Tears’ era) that can come up with lyrics deeper than screwing, getting plastered, and kicking someone’s azz on Saturday night.
Musically, the Keep The Faith / These Days era Bon Jovi mixed with the more rocking side of Bruce Springsteen’s older material is an unmistakable trait of all the songs on this album. One exception to this rule is the acoustic track All The Way Home, which brings to mind the band Gregg was part of previously, Attraction 65, whom released an album in 2003. The sheer emotion that Gregg sings with on this song is just too much not to appreciate.
Drive opens with a rocking vibe, followed by the anthemic Let It Rain with lots of harmonies throw in. She Wants to Be a Star is a favorite, that actually does harken back to the debut Blue Tears album. It’s an uplifting rocker with a big chorus line that will get stuck in your mind after the first listen.
In fact, in this album most of the material is of the hard rocking variety. The three ballads on this album are actually very solid; more ‘midpaced’ than balladry indeed. The other 11 tracks are very inspiring hard rock / melodic rock / classic rock. The debut Blue Tears album is often described as a mix of Bon Jovi and Def Leppard. Well, The Innocent Ones retains a Bon Jovi influence, albeit its ’90s version. Still, the songs on this album are very melodic in nature, with catchy chorus lines also to be found on most songs. However, they aren’t as over the top, but more earthy. Once you really give the lyrics a chance and allow the songs to really come to life, you’ll surely appreciate this ”The Innocent Ones”.
For a 16 year layoff, Fulkerson did a fine job in serving the Blue Tears name well. Although this album follows a different path than previous material of the band, the songwriting and lyrical content is able to stand on it’s own. And while production and mix could have been better, we are sure Gregg wanted this more ‘stripped’ sound, straight / few effects.
”The Innocent Ones” is a different BLUES TEARS, yet strong and good with its own merits. Unfortunately Gregg Fulkerson died not so long after this release, so this is the final studio work from this accomplished musician.
Highly Recommended
01 – Drive
02 – Let It Rain
03 – Run For Your Life
04 – The Innocent Ones
05 – Save Yourself
06 – Fast Times
07 – In Your Dreams
08 – All The Way Home
09 – She Wants To Be A Star
10 – Gloryland
11 – Break My Heart
12 – Silent Scream
13 – Money To Burn
14 – Unrequited Love
Gregg Fulkerson – Vocals, Guitars, Keys
Bryan Wolski – Bass
Robert Streets – Drums