Tyketto occupies a unique space in the annals of rock history. Emerging from the remains of Waysted and centered around the incomparable Danny Vaughn, they teased superstardom with their 1991 debut, “Don’t Come Easy”. It was a melodic hard rock masterclass that likely would have catapulted them to the big leagues had the grunge revolution not rendered their brand of polished rock “obsolete” almost overnight. Their intended follow-up was sidelined by Geffen, eventually surfacing years later via CMC as “Strength in Numbers”. Personal trials followed with Vaughn departing to care for his ailing wife. The subsequent album, “Shine”, introduced Steve Augeri (who would later front Journey) and was a solid effort, but with the musical tide against them, the band ultimately folded.
Fast forward to 2004: with grunge a distant memory, Tyketto reformed. Through various iterations and a string of reliable releases, they proved they still had gas in the tank. However, since 2016’s “Reach”, the band had drifted to my musical periphery—relegated to occasional spins, the mandatory singalong to “Forever Young” at rock bars, and memories of two stellar live shows. They were phenomenal in person, notably in Barcelona, where they managed to electrify a sweltering summer crowd.
I went into “Closer to the Sun” on a blind buy, fuelled by my lifelong appreciation for Danny’s pipes. I was immediately struck by this latest incarnation of the band. Alongside mainstay Ged Rylands on keys and Thunder’s Chris Childs on bass (finding productive use of his main band’s downtime), we now have the powerhouse Johnny Dee (Waysted, Doro, Britny Fox) on drums and the impressive Harry Scott Elliott on guitar. The chemistry is palpable; this feels like a formidable, cohesive unit rather than a studio project.
The record kicks off with “Higher Than High”, a quintessential opener. It’s an injection of pure energy where Vaughn proves that while his mane has turned silver, his voice remains 24-karat gold. It’s an upbeat, feel-good anthem that sets a high bar.
“Starts with a Feeling” follows suit—an earworm of a track drenched in melody with a radio-ready chorus and elegant lead work that feels like a lost gem from their early days.
Things get grittier with “Bad for Good”, a swaggering, bass-driven rocker that captures the “street-level” cool of their debut.
“We Rise” is a slow-burn anthem that erupts into a powerful groove. It echoes the atmospheric weight of Europe but retains that distinct American AOR DNA. It’s a song built for the “underdog,” destined to be a live favorite.
In contrast, “Donnowhuddidis” is a fuzzy, bluesy departure. It feels like the band letting their hair down, channelling early 70s British blues-rock in a loose, jam-heavy session.
The title track, “Closer to the Sun”, is a cinematic triumph. Inspired by the character Penny Lane from Almost Famous, it plays out like a vivid soundtrack. It balances quasi-acoustic storytelling with grand, rock-oriented crescendos, marking a high point of artistic maturity.
The surprises continue with “Harleys & Indians (Riders In The Sky)”, a rhythmic shuffle that sits somewhere between INXS and mid-period The Cult—a stylish tribute to bike culture.
Before the dust settles, “Hit Me Where It Hurts” strikes with a funky, riff-heavy edge reminiscent of early Thunder or 80s Queen at their most experimental.
For the sentimentalists, “The Picture” delivers a bittersweet reflection on the passage of time. It’s a rock ballad that avoids the “sappy” trap, offering instead a piece of distilled, melodic perfection.
The album winds down with the atmospheric “Far and Away”, which utilizes strings to great effect, leading into the closing rocker “The Brave”. With its faint Celtic undertones and a blistering solo, it’s a classic Tyketto finish.
Meat Loaf once sang about rock ‘n’ roll dreams coming true, and “Closer to the Sun” feels like the realization of that sentiment. Out of the blue, Tyketto has delivered an album that has no business being this vital and inspired this late in the game. It is honest, authoritative, and remarkably polished. Consider me thoroughly impressed.
