Though practically unknown here in the states, FM is one of the most respected AOR bands in their native England. It’s hard to believe they never made it stateside. Their signature combination of hard rock guitars and polished pop melodies were perfect for American Top 40 radio in the late 1980s. And while American radio aimlessly drifted from trend to trend for the better part of 30 years, FM stood tall and proud as melodic rock torchbearers. Those torches continue to be held high and shine brightly on their twelfth studio album, Synchronized.
While remaining true to themselves, FM’s sound varies on the AOR spectrum by album and Synchronized is certainly on the lighter side of things. There are some great hard rock moments spread about including the opening title track. “Synchronized” is a big 80s anthem similar to those on their first two albums, Indiscreet (1986) and Tough It Out (1989). There’s also the upbeat “Hell or High Water”, the gospelesque soul of “Pray”, and the gutsy closer that is “Ready for Me”. The rest of Synchronized goes between adult contemporary, AOR leaning more towards pop, and occasionally a combination of both.
I wouldn’t say adult contemporary is an inherently evil style or format. It just so happens the majority of acts who fall under this umbrella release music that’s mediocre at best and contrived at worst. Look no further than Aerosmith’s output of the last 30 years. Unlike the bad boys from Boston, FM hasn’t lost that sense of magic which goes into crafting a song. “Best of Times”, “Ghost of You and I”, and “Angels Cried” are akin to modern Bon Jovi, but without sounding nearly as forced.
About halfway through Synchronized is a group of songs which veer towards AOR’s pop side. There’s less focus on the guitars and more focus on the vocal heroics of founding member, Steve Overland; who by the way, still sounds amazing. His angelic vocals rival the likes of AOR crooners such as Bryan Adams, John Waite, and Richard Marx. They shine on “Broken”, “Change for the Better”, and “End of Days”: a social commentary with tinges of adult contemporary and fancy guitar work.
Once again, FM continues to maintain their reputation as one of the most consistent bands ever. You could forgive an act for having a creative misstep this far into their career. But FM still takes pride in their memorable melodies and pristine production. They won’t hang it up until the day they’re giving anything less than 110%. By the sound of Synchronized, that day is still a long ways away.
7 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: AOR
For fans of: Foreigner, Loverboy, Bryan Adams