REVIEW: Terry Draper, Light Years Later (Permanent Press)
- Bill Holmes
Short history lesson for you young'uns - In 1977 Kiss wore makeup and everyone thought Klaatu were the Beatles in disguise (after all, no one ever saw Badfinger and Klaatu at the same time!). Fast forward twenty years to the present - Klaatu photos prove they were not the Beatles, Kiss without greasepaint is downright scary, so they slap it back on and tour the world. Oh well...
Canadian Terry Draper, an original Klaatu member, is back with a sugary pop record that even features fellow Klaatuites Dee Long and John Woloschik on three tracks. The songs themselves span almost the twenty year period, and although they won't get the Beatle police out in force, Draper has a good knack for arrangements that flesh out his melodies. The former drummer plays several instruments well, and guest guitarist Grant Fullerton absolutely torches the bluesy "Here's To You". Song style is all over the map, from the Moody Blues-Supertramp-Kansas waltz-rock to a cop of Jay & The American's version of "Come A Little Bit Closer" in "Back To Acapulco". Much of the record has a 70's feel, but that's almost to be expected considering the source.
Draper's weakness is in his lyrics. Granted, pop songs can be about almost nothing ("Hang On Sloopy", for example), but majestic arrangements are usually meant to frame something. "Winter In Peru", Draper's personal version of "Cold Turkey", drones without the pain, although that may be a result of writing under that very influence. Lines like "friendship is the best ship that we know" help sink (no pun) an otherwise enjoyable "We're Not Alone". Draper is better when he writes ballads like "Be With You" and "Come Back To Me", love pleas in a sweet and low setting.
A few live tracks are included, as well as two bonus tracks from an upcoming children's album called "Terry's Tunes". I predict that will fare better than this outing, as Draper's natural sunny disposition and soft-sell vocals work better in that format. Klaatu fans will no doubt be thrilled to hear this record, but it's not consistent enough to make a statement for Draper as a solo act of note.
