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SHEA ROXI
1988

AOR Blvd (2013)
Rating: 8/10

There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of bands who emerged as part of the mid to late 80s hair metal scene who never got the recognition they deserved, simply due to the fact at the time there were hordes of similar-styled acts all aiming for the same goal – to be signed by a major label.

Shea Roxi were one such band who released two cracking demos which at the time were being passed around the underground and yet never resulted in the band making it big.

This quintet hailed from San Francisco and were fronted by Rob Schroeder who had an almost cosy appeal to his voice – the sort of soft tones that one would’ve loved to have heard on late night rock radio. Schroeder was joined by guitarist Adam Molinar Jr., bassist Steve Nystrom, drummer Joey Bennett and, as one would expect from an AOR band back in the 80s, a keyboardist whose name was Stephen Salinas.

In spite of their talent, Shea Roxi disappeared off the face of the Earth but now those forgotten demos have been dusted down and released under the title of 1988; this being somewhat of a time capsule album, giving us the perfect insight into an era that some of us were never around to appreciate.

So, we have 14 tracks (if we include the bonus cut; a live recording of ‘My World Is Changing’) and from the off we’re transported back to a time of smooth, swaying arrangements and a set of songs that quite simply were, and still are fantastic; proof that it was surely a crime for these guys not to have got signed.

Opening cut is the infectious ‘Cryin’ Eyes’, which oozes in on a gorgeous, swaying synth and summery guitar sway before jolting in with Rob Schroeder’s effortless and evocative croon of “After all this time…”, which couldn’t be more fitting for this type of lost gem. The track builds in lush manner to that stunning chorus of “Too late for cryin’ eyes, too late for goodbyes… my heart’s cold as ice ‘cos the fire stopped burnin’ inside”. It’s oh so classic, almost generic even, but full of pomp and juicy swagger, and there’s a bite there too, setting us up nicely for what can only be described as a sweeping, catchy-as-hell opus rich in cool keys and full of warm melodies that melt together the likes of Journey and Danger Danger.

‘Somebody Like You’ is the sort of bouncy number that parody metallers Steel Panther now make a decent living off; the beat is uplifting, the shuffling chords riddled with the influence of that pulsing keyboard effect. ‘Mystery At Midnight’ is sassy from its heartbeat drum and smoky vocal, and ‘I Got What You Want’ is the sort of archetypal 80s jig one would expect to have seen in the charts, such is its glorious nature.

1988 is the sort of album that should’ve been the soundtrack to so many lives back in rock’s heyday, but as it stands only now can we attempt to get the message of the band across, because this opus exhibits so much quality.

The studio version of ‘My World Is Changing’ is sublime, ‘Angel’ is magnificent with its poppy synth, and ‘Can’t Hide Love’ is a classic piano-lead ballad with aching guitar wrenched straight from the 70s glam rock period until it becomes a lighter-waving melody as majestic as the distant lights of the city flickering on the inky mirror-like surface of the water. So, I’m pretty sure you catch my drift when it comes to describing this light and airy rock album which more than lives up to its title. More than just a nostalgic trip, Shea Roxi’s songs still sound fresh and inviting today.

Neil Arnold

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