Tag: FM

This is album number two for the UK’s leading  AOR maestro’s and we’re treading the same path as Bon Jovi. Though, they were more well known in the UK and Europe as they were headlining shows and selling out.

Fronted by the vocal talents of Steve Overland, there was a point after the release of this album when I thought they would be huge. They had it all really, the big melodies, huge songs, and a strong label behind them. Shoulda, coulda, woulda!

Tough It Out , Don’t Stop, Someday, and Can You Hear Me Calling are all songs that would have been perfect for American radio, and who knows why that never happened. This was ’89 and just before doomsday arrived, I guess the A&R for the band dropped the ball. This is an AOR fan’s wet dream.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Now Britain has always produced great bands who play the harder stuff. In the 80’s, great metal bands were coming from all directions but when it comes to slicker, more polished aor sounds then the UK struggled. That is, until FM came along.

Fronted by the voice of Steve Overland and his brother Chris on guitar, FM finally proved that the UK had a bonafide killer aor/melodic rock band. This is the band’s debut album, released in ’86.

Opener That Girl is a superb tune and was released as a single. Everything about it is just class, you will be singing it for the rest of the day, it is my favourite tune. Other Side Of Midnight is up next and follows in its predecessor’s footsteps. A super slick melodic groover that feels as though you are driving down the pacific coast highway with the top down. In fact, all this album is worthy of your attention.

Nine songs of grade A melodic rock/aor, I’m sure if they were from the US they would have been stars. Over nine years they put out five quality albums and then nothing until 2010, then they resurfaced and have released eight albums since. If you are a fan of 80’s melodic rock then this is a must have.

9/10 from The Grooveman.