The 1st Avenue debut is varied throughout, and certainly high on power and energy, while grandiose streaks of piano and synths literally pepper itself all the way through.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: 1st Avenue
ALBUM: Tears And Triumph
LABEL: Indisc
SERIAL: DICD 3764
YEAR: 1992
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Netherlands
LINEUP: Peter Strykes – vocals * Gil Lopez – guitars * Joby Bosboom – keyboards * Arko Bommer – bass * Nop Ton – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Introduction/Going For The Gold * 02 Heaven In Your Arms * 03 When The Night Is Gone * 04 Out Of Reach * 05 Once In A Million Years * 06 Never Too Late To Live * 07 Hurt Before * 08 You Forsake Me * 09 Help Me Out * 10 Tears And Triumph
Background
I first read a review of this album in Kerrang during 1992, the review wasn’t great, and it put me off buying until a few years later. Glad I did as it’s one of the best Dutch albums around. Certainly the AOR fans took notice as it made it’s way into the years best albums in various publications and charts throughout Europe.
1st Avenue came from that formative period of Dutch melodic rock during the late 80’s, spinning off the success of Vandenberg. In fact Peter Strykes sang with that lot, though no recorded material eventuate. In it’s original incarnation, 1st Avenue featured another keyboard wunderkind in Robby Valentine (real name Robert Kempe), who later left to join Zinatra before striking out on his own.
But it was left to another keyboard maestro in Joby Bosboom to fulfil the playing duties, and what a job he did too, emulating Magnum‘s Mark Stanway to the hilt.
The Songs
The 1st Avenue debut is varied throughout, and certainly high on power and energy, while grandiose streaks of piano and synths literally pepper itself all the way through. In the main, there is a definite Europe and Magnum influence, and an overall European feel rather than American.
Air keyboardists need to listen to songs like ‘Going For The Gold’, ‘When The Night Is Gone’, and the fabulous ‘Out Of Reach/Out Of Touch’, featuring the wonderful piano/synth introduction which takes all of 3 minutes!
The more harder rockin’ songs stand out too. ‘Never Too Late To Live’ is an all time classic piece of melodic rock where the keyboard and guitar interplay merge to maximum effect, while ‘Help Me Out’ and ‘Tears And Triumph’ drive home hard.
The subtler moments such as ‘Heaven In Your Arms’ and ‘Once In A Million Years’ also show how the band can change comfortably from the slow build of a ballad into powerful rockin’ choruses and eventual solo’s.
In Summary
1st Avenue followed this up with the ‘Daily Battle’ album from 1994, though it’s not as dynamic as this one. 1st Avenue called it quits in 1995, However, as a recorded document,’Tears And Triumph’ is great stuff, and certainly not the write off some critics wrote it up to be. If you’re a pomp fan,investigate immediately.
Video
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
