Search - Shooting Star :: Leap of Faith: Let's Roll

Satisfying comeback album - reissued

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 02/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Comeback albums from bands whose heyday came in the 1980's are always a risky venture. The band has to tread a fine line between appeasing the loyal fans who expect a certain degree of familiarity and trying for a more modern and relevant sound that could capture new fans. The direction Kansas City melodic rock heroes Shooting Star went with their 2000 comeback album Leap of Faith was a return to their classic 80's sound, with just enough subtle differences to showcase a wiser, more mature band.



At its core, Leap of Faith is exactly the kind of AOR/melodic rock album you expect from Shooting Star. Obviously the mainstream music climate has long since moved past this kind of style, but that doesn't seem to bother Shooting Star. Leadoff track "I Just Wanna Rock" sets the tone for this upbeat album, but beyond some "party like it's 1985" rock anthems there are some surprisingly powerful love songs on this album. The title track in particular stands out, with its laid back, almost country sound. Like recent releases from Loverboy and Honeymoon Suite, Leap of Faith sounds and feels like the work of a band that is comfortable with where it was, but not desperate to relive the past.



If you're already a Shooting Star fan, then this is a must-have album. It should also satisfy fans of both old school AOR mainstays like Journey, Foreigner, and REO Speedwagon as well as modern melodic rock acts Harem Scarem, Lost Weekend, and Emerald Rain.



NOTE: The 2002 reissue of Leap of Faith features one bonus track - the 9/11-inspired song Let's Roll. I would have preferred to see this track released on a separate single or EP rather than asking fans to re-purchase an album most of them had just bought two years earlier."

Leaping for the Stars!

GYoung | USA | 09/26/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought Shooting Star's previous CD "It's not over" in a cut out bin several years ago and was totally blown away by the emotion in Keith Mitchell's voice. These guys are great and deserve to be re-recognized. This album is a re-issue with the new song Let's Roll inspired by the 9/11 tragedy and the now infamous last words of Tom Beamer who was a passenger on the plane that went down in Penn. Shooting Star is giving a dollar from every CD they sell to his foundation. If you like great hard Rock in the style of foreigner, survivor, Bon-Jovi then you'll love this album and several of their older releases. "Call it Love", and "Leap of Faith" are just fantastic pieces of song writing filled with emotion and delivered with nothing but talent and desire. Buy this album now."