Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Jeff Scott Soto One Night In Madrid Company: Frontiers Records Release: 2009 Genre: Hard Rock Reviewer: Chris Kincaid

JSS is better when he's on stage rocking out

At the end of his 2009 European tour which was in support of his newest release "Beautiful Mess" Melodic Rock God Jeff Scott Soto made a stop in Madrid, Spain.

The result is a live DVD called appropriately enough "One Night In Madrid".

The set list has 8 tracks from the "Beautiful Mess" album including '21st Century' followed by 'Our Song'. There's my favorite the Hard Rock riff heavy 'Drowning'. The more complex arrangment of 'Mountain' and also 'Broken Man'. But 'Hey' is where it gets sticky for me since it slows the pace a little too much for my tastes. Unfortunately it's not the only slow spot. Towards the end of the concert the shift focuses to Jeff who does a solo on the keyboards, a medley if you will, of beautifully sung but more emotionally charged fan favorites like 'Holding On' and 'Nobody Said It Was Easy'. Coupled with the Pop covers 'Frozen' and 'Crazy' and the Funk medley to close the show, give the concert lag bringing the DVD down a notch or 2 even if it does a fine job of showing off JSS amazing vocal range.

The rest of the songs shoved in between are gems like the Talisman song 'Color Of My XTC' with that groovy and very hypnotic bass line. 'Stand Up' from the Rockstar Soundtrack and classic hard hitters 'Soul Divine' and 'Eyes of Love'. But those are the only tracks that offer any real punch here.

Also on the DVD are a couple videos for a few of the mentioned new tracks as well as behind the scenes tour footage referred to as 'Goofballs' because the band acts like...well...goofballs. It also does not include 5.1 sound options but was shot in widescreen format.

For fans of JSS the DVD is a must have. For casual fans you might wanna skip it. JSS is better when he's on stage rocking out instead of dimming down the lights for 'moments of tranquility' music.