Released on May 6, 2022 by Frontiers Records, ‘Complicated’ is Jeff Scott Soto’s 8th studio album. And like his last solo album, he partnered again with Alessandro Del Vecchio to help write and produce the album. He wasn’t the only one to return as Jeff also had his good buddy Edu Cominato back on drums and Fabrizio Sgattoni on guitar who were both on ‘Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)’. With the same basic line-up, you’d expect the same sound and you’d be right. It is more of the same, which in my opinion is not always a great thing. Although at times it feels like Talisman and sometimes W.E.T., it kind of all sounds the same, but there are some great moments. Let’s find out what’s what on the album.

The album kicks off with “Last to Know” opens and all is good. You get a hard rocking song with a great chorus, memorable moments and Jeff’s awesome vocals. Jeff’s delivery is powerful and the chorus is such a big payoff with great backing vocals. Fabrizio throws in some great guitar riffs and lays down a solo that is fast and exciting. An energetic opener that will get you moving and get you anticipating the rest of the album.

“Disbelieving” comes up next and there are some great melodies and harmonies, but I quickly lose interest as it is too cookie cutter and no real surprises. Left me a little bored and my mind started wondering and I’d forget the song was playing…never a good thing.

But “Home Again” saves things quickly with its heavier edge, harder drums and grittier guitar playing. Plus, Jeff’s vocals literally soar especially during that brilliant chorus. It grabs hold and comforts you and makes you feel home again. Funny how that works. Might be one of the best songs on the album with some help again from Fabrizio laying down another sweet solo.

The party doesn’t stop with “Love is the Revolution” with its opening Eastern musical tinges and then it explodes into another rocking track. Jeff attacks the lyrics with a serious, deliberate phrasing and then he steps it up even more during the chorus. It reminds me of when Leppard did that sound back on ‘Slang’. I love it.

Jef”s albums have to have a ballad or two and first up is “Until I See You Again”. Alessandro makes his mark on keys with the piano sounding opening. Jeff delivers a softer vocal with as much emotion as he can muster. The song is stripped down at first and the chorus starts building as the intensity rises. By the second verse, the band is now in and still keeping it soft just with more energy. It’s not a bad ballad…not a favorite of mine, but Jeff isn’t going to top what he’s already done.

The title track, “Complicated”, is another rocking track, but quickly slows down during the first verse before picking it back up for the chorus. The song feels like it could be bigger, but never delivers on that promise sadly and leaves me feeling a little empty.

“Don’t Look Back” has a little keyboard riff that turns into the guitar riff and it is great. Edu lays down a great groove and beat. Jeff’s vocals don’t disappoint as they fly through the lyrics. The chorus is big and catchy and this classic style Jeff song was sorely needed at this point in the album. A straight ahead melodic rock song.

Then things pick up even more with “New Horizon” which has a W.E.T. feel, maybe even a little Eclipse. A high speed, fast paced rocker that really delivers on the chorus. A song that keeps the juices flowing and the energy high. And Fabrizio is at it again with another killer solo, keep them coming Fabrizio!

“Back to the Beginning” is another rocker, more great guitar work and honestly feels like he is taking you back to the beginning as it has a Talisman feel to it and I love Talisman so this is right up my alley. A fun track that harkens back to a time I love a lot. Good enough for me.

Then we get “Thank You” which isn’t really a ballad, but sort of is. It is very cheesy lyrically and musically is okay. Not a bad song, but not something that blows me away either. Very skippable…so next…

The final song is “Obsession” and has a big chorus and feels large, but really isn’t. Very generic and feels more like filler. The song feels like something he’s done a thousand times and so by this point, I don’t care anymore. He even says “Good God” which he’s done before too. Enough!

Track Listing:

1. Last to Know – Keeper
2. Disbelieving – Delete
3. Home Again – Keeper
4. Love is the Revolution – Keeper
5. Until I See You Again – Keeper (1/2 Point)
6. Complicated – Delete
7. Don’t Look Back – Keeper
8. New Horizon – Keeper 
9. Back to the Beginning – Keeper
10. Thank You – Delete
11. Obsession – Delete

The Track Score is 5.5 out of 11 Tracks or 59%.  There are so many reviews praising this record and I would agree, if this is your introduction to Jeff, it is a very good record. Great production, the music is accessible and Jeff’s vocals are sensational as usual. When you’ve listened to everything he’s done back-to-back for over a year like I have, you see the issues. The songs all sound the same, no variety like his earlier solo albums and the songs are a little forgettable.  Yeah, they sound great while you are listening to them, but 15 minutes later you don’t remember them.  However, there are a bunch of great tracks that are great to have in the Soto catalog and might one day be classics like “Home Again” and “Love is the Revolution”.  My Overall Score is a 3.0 out of 5.0 Stars which a 3.0 is still great, but If I’m being honest, I don’t like Jeff’s work wit Alessandro.  I think this is a good album is you are just getting in to Jeff, but once you dive deeper in to Jeff’s work, it doesn’t hold up as well.

UP NEXT: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – THE SOLO ALBUMS RANKED WORST TO FIRST

THE JEFF SCOTT SOTO SERIES:

1. Panther – ‘Panther’ (1986) – recorded in 1984
2. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Rising Force’ (1984)
3. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Marching Out’ (1985)
4. Kuni – ‘Lookin’ For Action’ (1988)
5. Kryst the Conqueror – ‘Deliver Us From Evil’ (1989) / ‘Soldiers of Light: The Complete Recordings (2019)
6. Eyes – ‘Eyes’ (1990)
7. Eyes – “Nobody Said It Was Easy” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
8. Talisman – ‘Talisman’ (1990)
9. Talisman – “I’ll Be Waiting” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
10. Skrapp Mettle – ‘Sensitive’ (1991)
11. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Eternal Prisoner’ (1992)
12. Bakteria – ‘Deficate! Suffocate! Mutilate! Masturbate!’ (1992 / 2009)
13. Eyes – ‘Windows of the Soul’ (1993)
14. Talisman – ‘Genesis’ (1993)
15. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘The Ballads’ (1993)
16. Biker Mice From Mars – ‘Biker Mice From Mars (Soundtrack)’ (1993)
17. Takara – ‘Eternal Faith’ (1993)
18. Talisman – ‘5 Out Of 5 (Live in Japan)’ (1994)
19. Talisman – ‘Humanimal’ (1994)
20. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Between the Walls’ (1994)
21. Gary Schutt – ‘Sentimetal’ (1994)
22. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Love Parade’ (1994)
23. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Made in Germany (Live)’ (1995)
24. Takara – ‘Taste of Heaven’ (1995)
25. Talisman – ‘Life’ (1995)
26. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Black Moon Pyramid’ (1996)
27. Human Clay – ‘Human Clay’ (1996)
28. Talisman – ‘Best of’ (1996)
29. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Magic’ (1997)
30. Human Clay – ‘U4IA’ (1997)
31. Boogie Knights – ‘Welcome to the Jungle Boogie’ (1997)
32. Takara – ‘Blind in Paradise’ (1998)
33. Talisman – ‘Truth’ (1998)
34. ‘Rock Star: Music from the Motion Picture (Soundtrack)’ – Various Artists (2001)
35. Humanimal – ‘Humanimal’ (2002)
36. Humanimal – Find My Way Home: Limited Edition E.P. (2002)
37. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Holding On E.P.’ (2002)
38. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Prism’ (2002)
39. Talisman – ‘Live at Sweden Rock Festival’ (2002)
40. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘JSS Live at the Gods 2002’ (2003)
41. Talisman – ‘Cats & Dogs’ (2003)
42. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Believe in Me E.P.’ (2004
43. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Lost in the Translation’ (2004)
44. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at the Queen Convention 2003’ (2004)
45. Soul SirkUS – ‘World Play’ (2004/2005)
46. Talisman – ‘Five Men Live’ (2005)
47. Talisman – ‘World’s Best Kept Secret DVD (2005)
48. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Essential Ballads’ (2006)
49. Journey – ‘Live from Atlanta (Bootleg)’ (2006)
50. Talisman – ‘7’ (2006)
51. Talisman – The Albums Ranked Worst to First
52. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘B-Sides’ (2006)
53. Redlist – ‘Ignorance’ (2007)
54. Jeff Scott Soto – LA Rocks Demo / Vinnie Vincent Demo 1988 (2008)
55. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Beautiful Mess’ (2009)
56. Jeff Scott Soto – “21st Century” / “Gin & Tonic Sky” CD Single (2009) – Bonus Edition
57. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘One Night in Madrid’ (2009)
58. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – ‘Night Castle’ (2009)
59. W.E.T. – ‘W.E.T.’ (2009)
60. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at Firefest 2008’ (2010)
61. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Damage Control’ (2012)
62. W.E.T. – ‘Rise Up’ (2013)
63. W.E.T. – ‘One Live in Stockholm’ (2014)
64. Jeff Scott Soto – The Authorized Biography (2014)
65. SOTO – ‘Inside the Vertigo’ (2015)
66. Joel Hoekstra’s 13 – Dying to Live (2015)
67. SOTO – ‘Divak’ (2016)
68. Sons of Apollo – ‘Psychotic Symphony’ (2017)
69. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Retribution’ (2017)
70. W.E.T. – ‘Earthrage’ (2018)
71. SOTO – ‘Origami’ (2019)
72. Sons of Apollo – ‘Live With the Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’ (2019)
73. Sons of Apollo – ‘MMXX’ (2020)
74. Talisman – “Never Die (A Song For Marcel)” – 7″ Single (2020)
75. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live and Loud in Milan 2019’ (2020)
76. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)’ (2020)
77. SOTO – ‘Revision’ (2020)
78. W.E.T. – ‘Retransmission’ (2021)
79. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘The Duets Collection, Vol. 1’ (2021)
80. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Complicated’ (2022)
81. Jeff Scott Soto – The Solo Albums Ranked Worst to First
82. Ellefson/Soto – ‘Vacation in the Underground’ (2022)
83. Slam – Slam (2023)
84. Jeff Scott Soto – ALL THE ALBUMS Ranked Worst to First
85. Jeff Scott Soto / Jason Bieler – Live In Concert (2022) – Bonus Edition
86. Jeff Scotto Soto / Jason Bieler – Live in Concert (2023) – Bonus Edition