We hadn’t been able to say much about Chicago for almost 10 years. Finally, with a 30th studio album (appropriately titled “XXX”) showcasing his galactically superior songwriting, singing, and instruments, the drought was finally over.
Lead single “Feel” hits with a solid funk backbeat from Tris Imboden and features his signature horn section to full effect. If you still miss Peter Cetera after 20 years, have someone remove the feathers from your hair, and then listen to Jason Scheff’s insanely cool voice in the chorus of “Caroline.” I love Cetera, but I’m not someone who thinks only one man can play Batman. Scheff has an impeccable lineage (his father was Elvis’s bassist, for God’s sake) and his smooth upper register has carved a niche for itself in Chicago. Bill Champlin (‘Where Were You?’) and Robert Lamm (’90 Degrees and Freezing’) are equally represented here, and they do a stellar job in
The Chicago songs have distanced themselves from the ’80s power ballads that became the band’s staple, but let’s face it, they do them so well that not having a contender or two on this album would be downright tragic. Enter ‘King of What Might Have Been’ and the soaring vocals of ‘Long Lost Friend’; two stellar Chicago ballads that will seriously irritate you (if you’ve been waiting for another Chicago Transit Authority album) or thrill you (if you’re like me and love the work they did with producer, David Foster).
Complete with some unusual but great collaborations with Rascal Flatts and Shelly Fairchild, “XXX” showcases the timeless sound of Chicago in a way we’ve all been dying to hear for a decade. Bottom line: If you’re a fan of the Chicago sound and haven’t heard this album, it’s about time you drop whatever you’re doing and jump into Chicago XXX.