The 1982 Listening Post - S·P·Y·S - S·P·Y·S

 Reviewed by Tom Mott

Released: 1982 S·P·Y·S S·P·Y·S Genre: Synth Rock Rating: 4.1 out of 5 Highlights: Don't Run My Life She Can't Wait Ice Age Don't Say Goodbye First, The Level appeared out of nowhere as the missing anthemic AOR quasi-power-pop band you never knew you needed. Now, in a plot twist nobody could have predicted, Spys appears as their long lost anthemic AOR Wonder twin. It's great! Clean, crisp rock with big drums, soaring vocals, plenty of in-your-face keyboards, and crunchy guitars. This is more "good Journey" than "bad Journey"--and I know you know what I mean. Delicious, soaring Steve Perry stuff with Stygian "The Best of Times" vocal harmonies. Yes, after a while it begins to sound like every song was generated by the Cold-As-Ice-260X-tronic supermusicomputer. But fun fact: The keyboardist and bassist came from Foreigner. Santana begat Journey. Foreigner begat Spys, and the apple did not fall far from that tree. STRONG RECOMMENDATION for fans of Journey Departure.