Jeff Scott Soto: solid but frustrating on Complicated solo album

AOR talisman Jeff Scott Soto keeps the hooks coming on solo album number eight, Complicated

Jeff Scott Soto - Complicated cover art
(Image: © Frontiers Music)

You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

If musicians were judged on prolificacy alone, then Jeff Scott Soto would be a shoo-in for rock singing’s Mount Rushmore. Across the 60-plus records he’s lent his voice to – including work with Talisman, W.E.T. and Sons Of Apollo – Soto has maintained largely commendable standards.

Although the task of following up last year’s Retransmission (the stunning album from W.E.T.) must have been unenviable, Last To Know and Disbelieving form an early flourish with Soto’s soaring melodies and Fabrizio Sgattoni’s sassy guitar playing. 

Sgattoni is similarly shred-ready on Home Again. Zealous lead single Love Is The Revolution taps into Eastern influences to compelling effect, but momentum is lost with the saccharine Until I See You Again

No matter, scorcher New Horizon burns with chest-beating defiance. Complicated is yet another solid collection from the veteran singer, but, frustratingly, he seems to save his very best for extracurricular activities.

Chris Lord

Copywriter, music journalist and drummer. Once fist bumped James Hetfield. Words for The Guardian, Gear4Music, Metro, Exposed Mag.