Forgotten Gems : IRISH SON by Brian McFadden

I admit that it was a bit of a hard pill to swallow... a solo album from a boy band member, entering my collection. I first heard the hit Real To Me which I thought was a brilliant poprock song, with an incredible chorus hook, that gets you immediately. It was only later I learned that it was actually the guy from Westlife singing. I was genuinely surprised and impressed to be honest.

Still it is not hard to hear the typical boyband phrazing now and then, but it is not more than can be accepted. He even manages to sound hoarse in a Bryan Adams fashion, hell even more rocking that the Bryan Adams of late. So to be honest if I could possibly listen to a Bryan Adams album, I can listen to this one.

It is in fact a very good pop rock album, with brilliant melodies and songs of good diversity, from quite hard rocking in Real To Me to the epic ballads like Demons, happy uptempo poprockers like Lose, Lose Situation with even a bit of humour. Then quite serious lyrics in Sorry, Love Daddy and then good old rocking in Walking Disaster. Again, one os those albums that just hit the sweet spot all the way through.... no suckers here. And add to that a beatiful duet Almost Here with Delta Goodrem). Brilliant. Image is nothing, music is everything.