Description
Children of Choices is the sophomore solo album by the American singer and songwriter Michael Gleason of A.D. fame, released on Pakaderm Records in 1990, manufactured and distributed by Word. The album was recorded at Twelve Oaks Studios in Atlanta, Georgia; and at Pakaderm Studios in Los Alamitos, California; and was produced by Michael Gleason and John and Dino Elefante. Mixed by Gleason and Sonny Lallerstedt at Twelve Oaks Studios. Featuring Michael Gleason on lead and background vocals, keyboards, and guitars, Sonny Lallerstedt of Pat Terry Group fame on guitars, Scott Meeder on drums, as well as John Elefante on background vocals.
Readers may recognize Michael Gleason’s name from his days working alongside Kerry Livgren in Kansas and later, A.D. That’s also where he formed his bond with the Brothers Elefante (Christian music’s Siamese twins, joined at the mixing console). To his credit, Gleason has tempered many of the excesses associated with those bands. The solos, both guitar and keys, are quick and punchy, and the arrangements do good service to his vocals and lyrics. But while Gleason’s work draws on the best of its arena-rock predecessors, it fails to build on them. When you hear the soaring background vocals on the title track, it’s impossible not to think on Gleason’s previous employers. When his voice catchen in the throat, you immediately flash on Steve Walsh and John Elefante.
Still, there are several teriffic moments on ‘Children of Choices’. Gleason proves himself a fine wordsmith on tracks like «Western World», «One Breath Away», and «Don’t Give In To The Night». He hits his vocal stride on «True To Myself», as he wails “You can take me to the wall/ But you can’t make me live a lie.” Sporting slippery keys and great hook, «Front Page News», with its tropical approach, may remind you of some of Don Henley’s more political tunes. I’ll leave it to you to decide if the fingers are pointed in the proper direction.
Gleason has said that he feels responsible to be a good steward of the talents that the Lord has given him. An admirable goal, but what he’s done on ‘Children of Choices’ is to be a safe steward. It’s impossible to know exactly how involved the Elefantes were with this project, but the brothers are coming dangerously close to self-parody. Here’s hoping they give greater artistic latitude on future Pakaderm projects. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, May 1990]
CD tracklist:
01. Children Of Choices – 4:08
02. Western World – 4:43
03. Feeding The Fire – 4:26
04. One Breath Away – 4:56
05. Don’t Give In To The Night – 4:13
06. True To Myself – 4:28
07. Life On The Line – 4:26
08. Nature Of The Beast – 4:21
09. Front Page News – 3:41
10. Heart Of Stone – 5:08
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Pakaderm Records.
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