Simple Expression

Description

Simple Expression is the sophomore solo album by the American singer and songwriter Mike Stand of Altar Boys fame, released on Alarma Records in 1990, a division of Frontline Music Group, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was recorded by Dave Hackbarth and Dave Jahnsen at Neverland Studios in Los Alamitos and the Mixing Lab in Garden Grove, California; with Mike Stand and Rick Elias producing. Mixed by Jahnsen at the Mixing Lab. All songs written by Mike Stand.

Fans of the Altar Boys received a treat in 1988 when Boys vocalist and chief songwriter Mike Stand released his first solo album, ‘Do I Stand Alone‘. The band quickly followed that with its best disc to date, ‘Forever Mercy‘, and now Stand has hit the solo spotlight again with an equally impressive follow-up, ‘Simple Expression’. Labelmate (and it would seem, musical soulmate) Rick Elias, is co-producer this time. Elias has helped Mike file off just a few of the rough edges, while maintaining the passion and urgency for which Stand is noted. As evidenced by the guitars featured in the cover photos, the jangling, Merseybeat musical influences remain intact. Comparisons between Stand and Mike Peters of The Alarm are also accurate, both in vocal delivery and songwriting technique.

Elias’ crew, The Confessions, back Stand on ‘Simple Expression’, and they play with a fire and a verve that is a joy to experience. Mike continues the introspection and gritty self-examination that listeners have come to expect in his lyrics. While he’s always been much harder on himself than he has the other subjects of his songs, this time around, Mike asks the central question “I feel a Savior’s forgiveness/ Is this what you feel too?” Fellow Altar Boy Rick Alba handles the piano chores on the lovely ballad «Whisper in the Morning». But the rockers, as usual, are the most outstanding tracks. «Footsteps of Love», «Blame it on the Heart», «Changes» (which evokes ‘Rubber Soul’-era Beatles) and «Great Things Happen» (which Roger McGuinn would be proud to have written) are just a few of the top-notch tunes on ‘Simple Expression’.

It’s difficult to understand why many of these songs couldn’t have been recorded with the Altar Boys. But why quibble with a good thing? As long as Mike Stand feels obliged to express himself in two different contexts, listeners can only benefit from a double portion of Stand’s terrific music. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, September 1990]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/simple-expressions/389877812)

CD tracklist:

01. All I Want Is To Live – 3:56
02. Footsteps Of Love – 3:45
03. Stand and Fall – 4:28
04. Whisper In The Morning – 3:27
05. Blame It On The Heart – 4:36
06. Changes – 3:50
07. Time Pressing Dance – 4:22
08. Great Things Happen – 4:15
09. I Melt Into You – 4:33
10. Follow You – 4:50

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Alarma Records. Mike Stand’s two solo albums, Do I Stand Alone and Simple Expression, were later re-issued on one CD as a part of KMG’s Classic Archives Music Value Pak series.