Michael Sweet

Never thought I would say this but I will actually aquire a Michael Sweet album. I had shyed away from his solo stuff because it always sounded like "Stryper-light" to me.

But he did this one song about abstinence that I always liked, and I recently found the video for it on youtube. (here it is).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TGhit2MQx4

While I was there I watched a few other videos and they actually really rocked (not metal, but rockin' anyway).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb9uXF-VAgs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq45aJgUSXY

Turns out that all these songs are on his self-titled album from 1994. So I added it to my wants list at lala, and low and behold it is on it's way to me.

That was a very good solo project for Michael. While there are some "Stryper light" songs, there are also some tunes more reminiscent of Brian Adams. It's different than Stryper, but it's a great listen.

That was a great album. All This And Heaven Too, and J.E.S.U.S. and Forever Yours are top tracks. I listened to those three songs many many times when I first got the album.

Maybe not Stryper in sound, but still a great rockin' album.

(All This And Heaven Too appeared on UK tv - which is a MEGA rare thing. I can only remember hearing that and Psychedelic Super Jesus (from Bride) being played on UK tv at any time in my life!!!!!)

Fundy

Ohhh yeahhh I have to tell I never was a big fan of Michael Sweet solo stuff.
The first two songs sound very cool.
But a piano intro hmmmm.
Now I hope the new Stryper has a complete different sound.

avdb11 wrote:

Now I hope the new Stryper has a complete different sound.

Well this Micheal Sweet solo album is from way back in 1994. So I would expect that the new Stryper album would probably sound somewhat different.

I have all of his solo stuff. There are definitely a few gems on them. I liked his latest the best and it was definitely his hardest stuff.

7thSecond wrote:

I liked his latest the best and it was definitely his hardest stuff.

7th, are you talking about his "Him" album?

The "Him" project is definitely not a rock project. It is a bunch of sappy love songs. Unless you just have to have everything with Michael singing on it, I'd recommend passing on this one.

alldatndensum wrote:

Unless you just have to have everything with Michael singing on it, I'd recommend passing on this one.

Yup, not a problem for me. If I wasn't getting the self-titled ablum on lala, I probably wouldn't be getting it at all.

Staybrite wrote:

7thSecond wrote:

I liked his latest the best and it was definitely his hardest stuff.

7th, are you talking about his "Him" album?

No. Truth.

7thSecond wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

7thSecond wrote:

I liked his latest the best and it was definitely his hardest stuff.

7th, are you talking about his "Him" album?

No. Truth.

Thanks 7th, I will check that out.

Save Me, from the official Truth album was probably his heaviest song he's done as a solo artist (I could be wrong), although a number of the songs from that album are not very heavy at all.

Have to say that I love 'Blue Bleeds Through', and that isn't a heavy rock song at all. And to me, it sounds even better on the independantly released Truth album.

Fundy

One thing I can say about Michaels s/t - awesome!
If I can listen to a release from front to back without skipping songs than to me it gets the stamp of awesome-ness and this is one of those cd's that I put on and let it flow. Some of the guitar hooks on it are candy to the ear, not too mention those big juicy choruses. The song Take Me Home comes to mind.



I have yet to get the Truth release but it's definately on the list.

alldatndensum wrote:

The "Him" project is definitely not a rock project. It is a bunch of sappy love songs. Unless you just have to have everything with Michael singing on it, I'd recommend passing on this one.

Him was not a collection of love songs, but a collection of hymns. Michael didn't grow up in the church and had never heard the old hymns. When he saw the lyrical depth, he decided to record a bunch of them with new melodies.

The album you're thinking of is called Touched, which was his rendition of a bunch of love songs that are his wife's favorites.

Michael's solo work is solid, but not spectacular. 1994's self-titled is probably my favorite, followed by Truth. Real is okay, and has some moments, but is too pop for me. Truth rocked hard, but wasn't as accessible. The s/t album is a near-perfect blend of accessible music with big hooks and enough crunch to satisfy most rock fans. The Bryan Adams comparison is spot on.