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Olafson, Lowry -
Pat Coleman -
Paul Laine -
Politano, Dan -
Prevedoros, Brad -
Quitzau, Lester -
Randy Bachman -
Ric Lafontaine -
Rick Bockner -
Rick Scott -
R.S. 'Honeybuns' McMillan -
Ron Hadley -
Ruszel, Andy -
Ryan McMahon -
Sam Hurrie -
Schmidt, Andrew -
Sean Hogan -
Shaikh, Adham -
Stanton, Joe -
Steve K -
Steve Palmer -
Streeper, Brent -
Tal Bachman -
Terry Jacks -
Thompson,Don -
Tinkham, Nathan -
Tobin Stokes -
Todd Butler -
Tom Hooper -
Tyson, Ian -
Valdy -
Vopnfjord, Lindy -
Walker, Graham -
Woofy, Brent and -
White, Diamond Joe -
Will Millar -
Wyckham Porteous -
Zlatko Zvekich -
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Forget that his father is pop legend Randy Bachman, former guitarist/songwriter for '70s stalwarts The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Forget that Tal's dad wrote such classic rock standards as "These Eyes" and "Takin' Care Of Business." Forget that.
Tal Bachman stands on his own merits here. His talent shines through on every track of his solo debut.This is one of the best albums of 1999 in my opinion. If you've heard the single, "She's So High," you already know that this young fella can write a catchy chorus with the best. Easily a young Eric Carmen in the making.
"She's So High" is an instant classic. Already a Billboard Top 40 hit (hitting the AC Top 10 as well).
Tal freely admits to being influenced by artists as diverse as the Jeff Lynne-led ELO, Elton John, The Who, The Beatles, David Bowie, Jimmy Page, The Kinks and Paul McCartney, and the influences are there, but Tal's successfully merged those influences into a unique sound all his own.
Tal wrote or cowrote all the songs on the album. His lyrics on "She's So High" show an intelligence that's missing from much of today's pop tunes. He conveys an emotion of longing in the song --- something everyone has felt. The feeling that the person you desire is "so high" above you that you haven't a chance in hell of catching their attention.
As Bachman says in the song: "She's blood, flesh and bone / No tucks or silicone / She's touch, smell, sight and sound / But somehow I can't believe / That anything should happen / I know where I belong / And nothing's gonna happen." Man, toss in a great intro like this track has, with a killer chorus ("'Cause she's so high / High above me, she's so lovely...") and some of the best vocal emoting since Eric Carmen sang "I Wanna Be With You" and "Let's Pretend" with the Raspberries, and you'll find yourself lost in power pop heaven.
This may not be the pop album of the year, even though it is inspired and excellent in every way. It is a very important album. There are few power pop artists on major labels, and Tal Bachman has the good (we hope) fortune of being on a major label like Columbia Records. I hope they understand what a brilliant artist they have and promote this album to the hilt. Tal Bachman merges power pop from the '70s through the '90s on this album, and has the potential to successfully lead power pop into the next century.
written by Don Krider