Dare is the band that Darren Wharton formed after Thin Lizzy called it quits, back in 1983. I would like to remind you that Lizzy keyboardist is also a member of the “latest” TL “team version”, working on their first studio in almost thirty years! First Dare album was released in 1988 and they were a bit successful in the Brit islands. This specific album is basically the re-release – well, almost – of the 1998 album. That one had been released by MTM Records, which then went bankrupt. It seams that Wharton acquired the album rights and decided to re-record and re-launch.
“Calm…” (part I) contained a Lizzy cover, “Still in love with you”, which we can no longer find here, inside the “successor”. Two other tracks were added instead, “Precious” and “Cold wind will blow”. Okay, this is stuff you can easily find over the net.
AOR! And then more AOR! And then some more and more and more, the way the mighty Magnum would recommend! Beautiful melodies, beautiful voices, totally melodic choruses. Just one thing tho… The whole album is too “neat” soundwise. Guitar roughness is limited, clean cut (acoustic) is all over the place. It’s like a Country Rock TV band thing… However, since the band wants to sound like this, I totally respect their wish. To tell you the truth, I I’d rather listen to something more vulgar in this case. Sound is so polished, makes you wanna say “Okay, that’s enough”! On the other hand, the entire album is based on, almost, the same tempo, some peeps are gonna react to this. To tell you the truth (again), I don’t mind. Should you not mind either, you will get to love the songs. It’s heartfelt pain all over the place! No better proposal by me by far! Oh, btw, the “new” cover is sooooo less cool than the “old one”.
