…but even I can’t get excited about the announcement that Foreigner has recently been in the studio, recording a new album.
It’s not that I’m not a Foreigner fan; I mean, in the ’70s and ’80s, they were masters of AOR, and “Cold As Ice” and “Jukebox Hero” remain some of my favorite songs to this day…but, to paraphrase Obi-Wan Kenobi, this isn’t the Foreigner you’re looking for.
In a recent report, Melodic.net indicated that the band’s line-up now consists of only one longtime member – founder Mick Jones – being flanked by “new guys” like Jeff Pilson (Dokken) on bass, Jason Bonham (yes, that Jason Bonham) on drums, and, on vocals, one Kelly Hansen.
Now, I’m not really trying to bash Hansen – if you check out this YouTube clip, he actually sounds pretty good when belting out the old stuff – but when you think Foreigner, you really think Lou Gramm. Of course, Gramm hasn’t been in the band since 2003, so this isn’t exactly a new development; still, this is the first time the band’s decided to re-enter the studio since Hansen took over vocal duties, and it’s hard to be but so optimistic when the band’s recent recording sessions involved the re-recording of old hits, including “Say You Will.” Yes, Jones says they have new material as well, and that’s all fine and well, but, again I say, they’re re-recording old hits.
This bodes ill, methinks.
