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> Login to your account > RegisterTWO FIRES
From page 74 of Classic Rock Magazine July 2000
Cover of July 2000 issue.
Two Fires' (Frontiers FR CD 041) ***** It's appreciated that Two Fires is something of a major coup for Frontiers by the fact that this project brings together former The Storm bandmates Kevin Chalfant and Josh Ramos once more. However, I can't help but feel that the label would have been better served had the duo opted to record a Journey tribute album full of covers.
It's almost embarrassing how Chalfant and Ramos attempt to capture the 'Escape'-era Journey's sound. Kevin's vocals ridiculously mimic Steve Perry's distinctive style, while the Neal Schon imitations performed by Ramos on the opening two tracks (`My Love Will Be There' and 'I Won't Give Up On Us') and elsewhere are equally jaw dropping. In fact, 'Summer Of Love' does take the piss, with more than a hint of 'Don't Stop Believin" and 'Stone In Love' within it.
Sadly, the songs themselves don't match up to the quality of the real thing. But when Two Fires go a more original route the results are more pleasing. The well-constructed and moody 'Remember' is far and away the best on offer in this respect, but there's nowhere near enough to be had from this record to re-ignite the AOR scene in the manner people are expecting of it . Dave Reynolds
