Robert Tepper’s ‘Better Than The Rest’ is safely held in the 80’s decade which should appeal to many of the Glory Daze regulars. Welcome back Mr Tepper!
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Robert Tepper
ALBUM: Better Than The Rest
LABEL: AOR Heaven
SERIAL: AORH00193
YEAR: 2019
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Robert Tepper – lead vocals * Pablo Padilla – guitars
TRACK LISTING: 01 Why Does Over (Have To Be So Sad) * 02 Better Than The Rest * 03 All That We Never Have * 04 Testimony * 05 Time Just This Time * 06 My Yesterday * 07 Tell Me You Love Me * 08 Show Me Where The Light Is Going * 09 Beyond The Atmosphere * 10 I Don’t Want To Make You Love Me * 11 You Know Just How You Feel
RATING: 90/100
WEBLINKS: Official Site | FB Page
Background
Here’s a guy who comes from the 80’s major label leagues. Signed to CBS/Scotti Bros, Robert Tepper released two excellent albums in 1986 and 1988 (‘No Easy Way Out’ and ‘Modern Madness’). Unfortunately he never quite managed to hit the ball out of the park. Wasn’t that par for the course for all budding AOR wannabes back then?
Tepper then released his third album in 1996 called ‘No Rest For The Wounded Heart’, plus an understated self-released effort in 2012 called ‘New Life Story’. In 2019, he has signed to AOR Heaven, and seems to have found his mojo once again. ‘Better Than The Rest’ being a much rockier affair than I first anticipated.
It’s slightly east of the Michael Thompson Band in their heyday, well produced with some choice selections on offer, some on the mellow side but not overly so.
The Songs
Tepper’s musical accomplice is ace Spanish guitarist Pablo Padilla who adds six string chops that really crank some of these songs into the stratosphere. Here him go to town on the first two tracks ‘Why Does Over (Have To Be So Sad)’ and the title track ‘Better Than The Rest’, with Tepper safely locked into the groove.
Third up is the ‘All That We Never Have’ which is fluid but passes by without a guitar solo.. Robert introduces a tougher vocal on ‘Testimony’, but you gotta love that airy guitar lead in before things get really cranky. Dipping into a slower tempo, ‘Time Just This Time’ is a deeply melodic affair where you can hear the reverb shimmering off the verses. Nice stuff.
Tepper returns to his 80’s era in magnificent order thanks to ‘My Yesterday’, the verses are full of interesting synth incursions topped by an anthemic chorus. The only thing missing is a well placed guitar solo! I quite liked ‘Tell Me You Love Me’, it moves in the same vein as Gino Vannelli in his hi-tech 80’s era. Oh, and this time we get a guitar solo. Awesome.
‘Show Me Where The Light Is Going’ sounds like a Michael Thompson Band offshoot, and surges along as a decent melodic rock track should. There’s a happy vibe on ‘Beyond The Atmosphere’, it contains some modern sounding synths but it’s Robert’s vocal that is the winner for me.
Team Tepper turn up the dials on ‘I Don’t Want To Make You Love Me’, the verse reminiscent of last year’s brilliant ‘This Is Where The Party’s At’ by Seventh Heaven. The album concludes with the flowing ‘You Know Just How You Feel’. It starts out as a ballad but it doesn’t take long to change course. A great way to sign off.
In Summary
As many have commented elsewhere on the Internet, it is great to have Tepper back in the public eye with a release befitting his credentials and past experience.. He certainly hasn’t lost anything in the vocal department as he’s probably spent more time pushing a virtual pen (like me) in the art/craft of songwriting.
‘Better Than The Rest’ is safely held in the 80’s decade which should appeal to many of the Glory Daze regulars. Welcome back Robert Tepper!
Robert Tepper on Video
Better Than The Rest
My Yesterday
Testimony
