III Wishes＜Red Vinyl＞

Recorded at the storied Colorado studio Caribou Ranch, III Wishes captures this killer Kansas City sextet in a holding pattern, where the rootsy vocal of Gary West transmogrifies into Steve Perry's soaring croon. Even the usual expert musicianship resembles a certain Bay-Area phenomenon. Journey boardsman Kevin Elson shouldn't shoulder all the blame. Sure, Shooting Star deserves a piece of the AOR profit as much as any act, but the group is too talented and honorable not to make music on their own terms. "Do You Feel Alright" seems a bit too knuckleheaded from a band with deep spiritual leanings. "Couldn't Get Enough" keys into the passion of previous outings, but the trite chorus comes off forced. Shooting Star managed to work around cliches before, but the boys can't affect the listener if their hearts are not in the proceedings. By the last cut, "Whole World Watching" (with Chicago-ish keys), it's obvious Shooting Star wants to please too many people. When pleasing themselves, the band made great music. III Wishes echoes others' great music and that's a shame. More brilliance waited in the band (as evidenced on Silent Scream), but III tries to capture the money of those prospects not listening, and doesn't move the emotions of Shooting Star's already-attentive audience. ~ Doug Stone