This album was released close to the end of 2009. This is a special limited edition that was released in March 2009 and contains 2 CDs (the album plus a live CD) plus a DVD of a Foreigner show in 2009. All this put together with a nice, agreeable price tag

It’s been a long time now that the phrase “new Foreigner album” sounds like a joke, since it has been sixteen years after “Mr. Moonlight” with Lou Gramm. Nevertheless, sole remaining founding member Mick Jones, rebuilt the band five years ago and used very talented musicians with frontman Kelly Hansen and toured the globe keeping the myth of one of the most important AOR bands alive. The release of this album is the roof of all this effort.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Foreigner are here! They give us a spectacular new album with all the ingredients that helped them sell over fifty million records so far. The CD starts with the same titled, heavy track (which is also the first video) and it is a dynamite with a killer chorus giving you the impression that the best is to follow. And it does follow…the second track is my personal favorite, “In Pieces”, full of ambience with an amazing chorus where Kelly Hansen shines. “When It Comes To Love” with a nice sax vibe makes a super-smooth AOR Ballad. Lou Gramm’s spirit hangs over the band in “Living A Dream” and a rock disposition returns for “Ready” and “Give Me a Sign”. “Too Late” left me speechless” since it could as well be in a Maroon 5 album and the truth is that I played that a lot. “As Long As I Live” and “Anger Tonight” are typical Foreigner cuts, while I particularly enjoyed the later. They bid as farewell with “Fool You Anyway” with a Hall & Oates feeling present.

This is a very strong come back. The band and their sound show their years of experience and it gives you the impression that all is written and arranged in order to show off Kelly Hansen’s voice. This could well be the best voice in AOR today, passionate, playful and versatile, plain to see in the DVD that completes the package. In this 2009 live show, the band perform masterpieces like “Urgent”, “That Was Yesterday”, “Hot Blooded”, “Juke Box Hero”, “I Want To Know What Love Is” and it is simply perfect. Exfellent performance, boosting 5.1 sound and a wonderful song list.

I should also note the participation of Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Dio, MSG) and the one of the amazing drummer Brian Tichy who dazzled be in 1994 being the cornerstone of Zakk Wylde’s Pride & Glory. Unfortunately as this review was being drafted, Brian Tichy departed to be replaced by Jason Sutter.