Foreigner – Can’t Slow Down
Rhino Records
www.rhino.com 

Rating: B 

As much as the rebel in my hates the fact that Wal-mart can pony up enough money to push the old Ma & Pop record stores out of business, I must admit they do an amazing job with the exclusive products they are releasing and offer the music fan an incredible value for their dollar.  The new Foreigner features the first studio album to be released by the band in fifteen years, a second CD of the band’s greatest hits, remastered and a DVD of the current lineup in concert in France.  All of this is available for about twelve bucks.   

The new album, which features only Mick Jones from the band’s glory days, is a great surprise.  Every track is well written, immaculately produced and superbly recorded.  Not only does Jones continue to write well crafted pop songs, he has put together probably the strongest band in Foreigner history.  The shame of the matter is that original vocalist Lou Gramm is not on board.  This is partly due to Gramm’s health issues and partly because Jones felt he had to move on as Lou’s performance capabilities are not what they once were.  

Enter former Hurricane and Heaven & Earth vocalist Kelly Hanson.  Kelly does a great job filling the spot vacated by one of the best and most beloved rock vocalists of all time.  He sounds enough like Gramm to get the job done yet has a uniqueness to him that fits comfortably into the band’s sound.  

The remastered, best of disc features the best the band has made sounding better than ever.  These songs feature Lou Gramm and the original musicians who made the music.  The bonus DVD shows the band kicking ass live and includes a behind the scenes documentary. 

At the end of the day, this is 100% Mick Jones Foreigner.  That said, it is a damn fine band and as new songs such as “Can’t Slow Down,” “In Pieces,” “I Can’t Give Up” and “Too Late” show, Mick has not slowed down at all concerning songwriting.  As a bonus to fans, the CD also includes a soulful remake of “Fool For You Anyway” originally released on the first album.   

– By Jeb Wright