Jeff Scott Soto

Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)

Frontiers Music s.r.l.

November 6, 2020

Album Review By JD Rich

Boston Rock Radio

Whoever said “less is more” obviously never met or heard Jeff Scott Soto, who proves that more is absolutely better. Just peruse this musical mage’s extensive resume. He’s worked with the best of the best in the ‘biz, from Yngwie Malmsteen to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and a long list of established musicians in between. He’s been on over 85 albums, not counting nine of his own solo studio recordings, including the recently released double-CD, Wide Awake (In My Dreamland). The first part is comprised of new original material (some titles look familiar and could be mistaken for covers, but they aren’t). The second half is from live performances of previously-released songs. For the purpose of brevity, I will stick to new stuff from the first part.​

I’m happy to report that every single track is packed with no-holds-barred Rock that hooked fans of Jeff Scott Soto in the first place. Casual Rock fans could quickly find themselves in the JSS fan family, thanks to his optimistic messages and boundless talent. Wide Awake (In My Dreamland) is more than authentic; it’s every single one of us. By that, I mean each song is relatable, easy to keep up with from a listener’s standpoint, and memorable. In his 37 years as a professional musician, this new album could reasonably be considered the crown jewel of Soto’s solo career. His intuition and experience pays off like a lottery jackpot. Strong beats, beefy bass lines, and of course, masterful guitar riffs form a musical cocoon that protects the purity of credible lyrics delivered by genuine vocals. Rock ballads on Wide Awake give the sense not of despair or regret but the determination to carry on with newfound wisdom instead.​

It’s time to let go of long-held impediments and move on to bigger and better opportunities. Soto provides the perfect soundtrack to help you begin the process. It’s your chance to be wide awake in your own dreamland, just follow his lead. You don’t have to wait, Wide Awake (In My Dreamland) is available on all digital platforms now. Stop hitting that snooze button. There’s no time like the present to wake up.

Line-up:

Alessandro Del Vecchio – Bass, keys, guitars, backing vocals

Fabrizio Sgattoni – Guitars

Edu Cominato – Drums

Jeff Scott Soto – Vocals

August Zadra – backing vocals, lead guitar on ‘Between The Lines’

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