I’ll be the first to admit I get a little out of hand with my AOR nerd-dom. While there’s no doubt Jim Peterik is the de facto melodic rock songsmith, I tend to throw around names like Russ Ballard, Stan Bush, and Robert Tepper with the same nonchalance, only to be greeted by blank stares and the occasional “Who?” I really need to remind myself that most peoples knowledge of AOR doesn’t extend past their Journey Greatest Hits CD. Lucky for you, mine does, so allow me to spend the next four paragraphs praising yet another unsung AOR hero, Paul Sabu.
The son of legendary Indian born actor Sabu and Broadway actress Marilyn Cooper, Paul Sabu got his start in the late 70s as a teen idol, marketed alongside the Leif Garretts and Rex Smiths of the day. Come the 80s, he’d become a dominant force in the AOR world, reinventing his sound with the classic album Heartbreak (1985) and spearheading such beloved cult outfits like Kidd Glove and Only Child. In the decades since, Sabu retreated more behind the scenes, remaining active as ever as a producer, songwriter, session musician, and mentor to up and coming hard and heavy bands. Yet the question remained: When would Sabu, the rockstar, strike again?
The answer comes screaming to us in his first album in a decade, Banshee. One can’t help but wonder what took so long, as Sabu’s musical and songwriting chops remain sharp as ever. This is made evident from the soulful melodic hard rock of the opening “Blinded Me”; an anthem that channels the glory days of Whitesnake more than anything Whitesnake has released in 35 years. The old school, arena friendly title track keeps the party going, as does the 70s tinged “Love Don’t Shatter”, bluesy “Back Side of Water”, and the nocturnal AOR hymn that is “Kandi”.
Come the album’s second half, things only get stronger. “Rock” and “Rock the House” (two different songs, mind you) go full blown old school metal mode, coming off like a cross between Priest and Mk. II Purple. Meanwhile, the heavy handed funk rocker that is “Dirty Money” swaggers like a lost Mk. III Purple banger, and the ultra melodic “Turn the Radio On” exudes a bittersweet sense of nostalgia for an era I didn’t even live through. What can I say? Sabu took the “All killer, no filler.” mantra to heart when making this one.
Banshee runs the musical gamut, capturing nearly every facet of Sabu’s long, storied career. Whether you prefer his solo work, Kidd Glove, Only Child, or some other obscure project I’m likely forgetting, you’ll find a taste of it here and then some. It’s equal measures hard rock, AOR, and metal, with an extra helping of musical professionalism to boot. If you happen to be in a last minute dash to find a Christmas gift for the AOR fanatic in your life, pick up a copy Banshee! They’ll be screaming for joy, and so will you when you get a load of the melodies on this bad boy.
7 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Whitesnake, Foreigner, Deep Purple