Something of a disappointment after Hang On For Your Life
William J. Eichelberger | Ft. Thomas, KY | 03/09/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I thought that Shooting Star was poised on the brink of REO Speedwagon-like success after the brilliant Hang On For Your Life set, but III Wishes turned out to be a fairly weak follow up and the band never really recovered. Not a bad album, but definitely not one to make the crossover from AOR to mainstream. Are You Ready, Heartache and Do You Feel Alright were all songs that made my personal "best of" set, with Whole World's Watching as a pinch hitter, but little else on the album came close to anything on the previous album."
Wish Upon A Star
Chris Gerbig | Ontario, Canada | 09/03/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I go way back to the early 80's with these guys, when "Last Chance" used to blow me away on the radio. Like Kansas, they incorporate the violin into their hard rock repertoire. True blue Shooting Star fans will find this a satisfying album. Hard rockers like "Are You Ready" and "Do You Feel Alright" are much in the vein of the Over The Top stylings found on "Shooting Star" and "Hang On For Your Life". But this album leans heavily in the direction of melodic, softer songs. Such as the rousing power ballad "Whole World's Watching". Less high on octane, it's not the recommended starting point for newcomers. It still delivers, though. It's really great to finally see these guys available on CD. If you are a fan of groups like Kansas, Magnum, Bad Company, Foreigner and Journey, you should give these AOR wonderboys a spin. They combine the best elements of all those bands. The cover art is a notable improvement on this one too."
Shooting Star's Third Great Album In A Row
The Footpath Cowboy | Kingston, NY United States | 12/04/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"III WISHES, Shooting Star's third great album in a row, is nevertheless not quite as great as the first two or SILENT SCREAM, yet is still a great piece of AOR that bridges the gap between Journey and Foghat. Vocalist Gary West retains his rootsy vocal tone here, thus setting the band apart from its AOR peers. The fact that Shooting Star's members advocate sanctions on countries that falsely convict foreign visitors, capital punishment/life without parole for kidnappers, and increased law-enforcement funding makes III WISHES an essential purchase for both your ears AND your conscience."