:: editorial reviews -- amazon.com

It's often the case that when a frontman records a solo album, it sounds so close to their regular gig that you wonder why he cared to bother. And with Queensryche's Geoff Tate, whose voice is as distinctive as a fingerprint, it presents an even bigger challenge. Yet on his solo debut he manages the task flawlessly. The overall style is dramatic yet mellow, with hypnotic mid-tempo melodies and layers of lavish harmonies. "Helpless" incorporates Euro-dance rhythms and Spanish guitars, "The Passenger" is jazzy, and the pretty piano ballad "In Other Words" builds with a lovely string section. "Off the TV" and "Flood" rock a bit heavier, featuring Queensryche-like crashing guitars and Tate's trademark high notes. If you're looking for Operation: Mindcrime or Empire revisited, you won't find it here. But if Geoff Tate's voice sends shivers up your spine, this may be a contender when you list your favorite albums of 2002. --Gail Flug