Beekstraat 1 - B-2640 Mortsel - Belgium

VALENTINE: The Most Beautiful Pain

Release

Style

8,5/10

Whatever you think of Robby Valentine, no-one can deny that his style is very distinctive and unlike anything else on the market. Right from his self-titled first solo album (1992), Valentine has been playing a unique mix of Beatles and Queen-like melodies, with lots of bombast and hard rock, pop and classical influences. I regard his first two albums in particular very highly. Despite a hit single with ‘Over And Over Again’, though, Valentine never really made it big, and his latest few albums (including two collaborations with compatriot Valensia) were only released in Japan, where he did enjoy quite a lot of success. But now he’s back with his newest album, released on the Italian Frontiers Records label.

Opener ‘I Should Have Known Better’ is heavier than anything Valentine has ever released before, even containing some nu-metal influences. But the grand melodies and huge harmony vocals are still very typical for his sound and this makes this one of the most interesting songs of this album and, indeed, his career. Other great songs are the piano ballad ‘How Can I Live Without You’, ‘How many Times’, ‘Supernova’ (a powerful song with a very odd outro), ‘Now Or Never’, ‘Exodus Elephantes’ and ‘One Heart (which sounds like it comes from a stage musical). The orchestral backing on ‘Everyday Hero’ makes this one of the absolute highlights.

And then there’s the weird stuff: a title like ‘Magnum Opus’ for this very short track is an example of Valentine’s sense of humour. It is one of those typical Valentine oddities: a simple song that is very reminiscent of the Beatles, with harmonies that are very much like Queen’s, and a Brian May-like guitar sound. ‘Magical Memories’ is another example of this -  yet another tribute to Queen. Pop rock songs like ‘I’m Going Under (Sedated)’ and ‘One Of These Days’ are not really my cup of tea, but then it’s all part of the Valentine package and there are more than enough excellent tracks to make this a really recommended album.

Maybe one or two too many fillers, but this is still an excellent return to the European market for Robby Valentine.
 

Musicians

1. I Should Have Known Better
2. A New World
3. I’m Going Under (Sedated)
4. One Of These Days
5. The Cold And Lonely Lie
6. She (Abandoned Heart)
7. Magnum Opus
8. Everyday Hero
9. Supernova
10. Magical Memories
11. How Many Times
12. Mickey
13. How Can I Live Without You
14. One Heart
15. Back To The Future Theme
16. Now Or Never
17. Exodus Elephantes... I Can’t Get Over You

Robby Valentine (1992)
The Magic Infinity (1993)
Valentine (1995)
4 – United (1997)
No Sugar added (1998)
Valentine/Valensia (1999 – with Valensia)
Believing Is Seeing (2000)
Valentine vs. Valensia (2001 – with Valensia)
The Most Beautiful Pain (2006)

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Last updated: 06 april 2006 .
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