Only two years after “Chameleon”, Lee Small is back with his new solo release, “The Last Man on Earth”. I guess the covid hiatus has given musicians more time than ever before to compose and record music. This time Lee decided to collaborate with several known musicians, so the list of guest musicians includes Dan Reed on vocals on “Revolution Road”, Steve Man (MSG, Lionheart) on guitar, Tommy Denander (Bobby Kimball) on guitar, Charles Berthoud on bass, Edu Cominato (Geoff Tate) on drums, Fabrizo Sgattoni on guitar, Mika Gronholm on guitar, Micke Nilsson on bass, Marshall Harrison on guitar, Sony Stevan on keys, and Rossano Capriotti on keys.
This album’s music blends AOR, pop-rock, and melodic rock. Every song has a different vibe, which adds variation to the album while also showcasing Lee’s and his guest musicians’ diverse musical inspirations. The production is crisp and full.
There are several tracks to revel in, such as “The Last Man on Earth” (probably the AOR / Melodic Rock highlight of the album), “Neon Heartbeat” (a melodic rocker), “Let’s Go Together” (a wonderful yet peculiar pop/rock song), “You’re Not the Only One” (a classic AOR track with excellent backing vocals), “Here We Go Again” (with the Westcoast AOR influences all over it), “In and Out of Love” (an atmospheric AOR song with pop touches), “Midnight Rain” (strong melodic rocker), “Silhouettes” (a melodic rocker with several SHY influences), “Revolution Road” (a duet with the renowned Dan Reed), “Wings of Destiny” (a lite AOR tune), and “The Big Unknown” (a completely atmospheric song).
The album is fairly varied, showcasing the talent of the superb musicians who collaborated with the charismatic Lee Small. While some tracks stand out more than others, there are no weak moments on the album. Lee Small has surely delivered a well-crafted record, leaving listeners eagerly anticipating his next musical attempt.
