Question to any Lite AOR fans

[Leykis101]

Probably for Jez, but anyone else with a broad knowledge, lately I have seen the term Hi-Tech AOR used prolifically, I have noticed a certain type of AOR that I like far more then the rest, I understand the classification Westcoast AOR, I believe, this is the really light shit right? so is Hi-Tech AOR the type you heard alot in the early to mid 80's? with the electronic drum sound, and the extremely clear short notes played on guitar? here are some of the bands that I absolutely love in AOR, I hope you can connect the dots on the sound im talking about, by the albums Im listing, and then maybe you can help me figure out some other albums that have this sound.

 

Sahara Snow

Fee Waybill - Read My Lips

Tim Feehan - ST

Lava - Fire

Far Corporation - Solitude

Mr.Mister - Welcome To The Real World

Boom Crash Opera - ST

Shine - ST

 

Hopefully this will give you a good idea what im talking about, I guess that Sahara Snow album would be the biggest example of the sound I like, as I know most of you have heard that one, I understand some of these border into the Pop territory, but thats what Im trying to figure out, are they one in the same?

[KarpetRydOFunk]

What exactly are you trying to discern--the style of AOR you prefer? Or the difference between Hi-Tech and Westcoast?

[Kim_Hp]

Well I would rather place the hi-tech AOR genre at it's peak around mid to late 80's and subsequently the westcoast AOR genre's peak at 1980-1984...
Mr. Mister is definitely a classic case of high-tech AOR while Fee Waybill is a bit of everything...you have tracks on that record which are pure AOR, pure westcoast or even pop...and yeah I guess you could say high-tech AOR too.

[Leykis101]

What exactly are you trying to discern--the style of AOR you prefer? Or the difference between Hi-Tech and Westcoast?

 

Im basically trying to nail down the sound of Hi-Tech AOR, and then trying to figure out if that's the sound I really like, I enjoy most AOR, I kind of dont get into the really ultra soft shit, but the sound I prefer is the faster style.

 

Kim HP, the exact song im holding up off that Fee album, is the last track, I Couldve Been Somebody, that guitar is EXACTLY!! the guitar sound I am trying to peg down, so if your familiar with the guitar in that song, there you go, thats the guitar im speaking of.

[Kim_Hp]

"I Could've Been Somebody" is a bit high-tech AOR in style, I agree... it's a great song off a great CD.
I have tons of tips for you mate but I am writing from work now so I'll get back to ya later...have you checked Bobby Barth´s '86 release though...that's probably as close to the definition of high-tech AOR as one can get.

[Glen]

I think you would really like The Theander Expression from last year.

[Jez]

It's quite a hard area to define, besides many being typical of the 'Modern' late 80's/ eary 90's sound. Besides AOR, Lite and West Coast, some bands even verge on the New Wave sound, with the Keyboards taking the lead in alot of the stuff. Others artists like Marc Jordan, is a good example also, as most of his releases are pure west coast and then for example his 'Talking In Pictures' album would fit prefectly in to the Hi-Tech' genre and is a brilliant example in my book.

 

Try a few of these

 

Marc Jordan - Talking In Pictures

Zappacosta - S/T

Time Gallery - S/T & Kelidoscope

2 A.M - When Every Second Counts

The Kite - S/T

Psuedo Echo - Race

Body Electric - Walking Through Walls

Toy Matinnee - S/T

Giraffe - The Power Of Suggestion/ The View From Here (Fantastic)

Channel 5 - S/T

Higher Ground - Perfect Chaos (Hi-tech, AOR, West Coast ala TOTO)

Bridge 2 Far - S/T (AOR, Hi-Tech, West Coast)

One 2 One - Imagine It (Hi-Tech, Pop)

[Leykis101]

"I Could've Been Somebody" is a bit high-tech AOR in style, I agree... it's a great song off a great CD.

I have tons of tips for you mate but I am writing from work now so I'll get back to ya later...have you checked Bobby Barth´s '86 release though...that's probably as close to the definition of high-tech AOR as one can get.

 

You mean the dude from Axe? that Bobby Barth?

[Kim_Hp]

 

"I Could've Been Somebody" is a bit high-tech AOR in style, I agree... it's a great song off a great CD.

I have tons of tips for you mate but I am writing from work now so I'll get back to ya later...have you checked Bobby Barth´s '86 release though...that's probably as close to the definition of high-tech AOR as one can get.

 

You mean the dude from Axe? that Bobby Barth?

 

Yes exactly. The album is called "Two Hearts - One Beat".

[Leykis101]

How come none of you told me about this cd Work Of Art, im very upset, I just got this, and found it absolutely killer!

[KarpetRydOFunk]

How come none of you told me about this cd Work Of Art, im very upset, I just got this, and found it absolutely killer!

 

Uh... we've been talking about WOA for ages. If you're just listening to them, now, that's on you . You done fucked up!

[Leykis101]

Yes I did, Hey would any of you consider Dreams Of Ordinary Men Hi-Tech Aor? that would be Hunter.

[Kim_Hp]

Yes I did, Hey would any of you consider Dreams Of Ordinary Men Hi-Tech Aor? that would be Hunter.

 

I'd have no problem cathegorizing that CD as high-tech AOR, no.

[Leykis101]

I went to my stepdad, and axed him about some hi-tech aor cd's he might be interested in letting me check out, he went to his room, and came back out with a stack of discs, handed them to me, and said I should like them, I havent heard a single cd he loaned me, and I cant listen to them till later tonight, here are what he loaned me, if any of you have comment on these, please fill me in, let me know if they blow, or arent Hi-Tech so I can just skip them.

 

St.Paul - Down To The Wire

Distance - Under The One Sky

Bite The Bullet - ST

Bolland - The Domino Theory

Outrider - No Way Out

Shine - A Far And Distant Shore

Cvello - ST

Bricklin - ST

The Works - From Out Of Nowhere

 

if anyone is familiar with these discs, or even better, if any of these are something I should skip, please tell me.

 

[Stefan]

 

Bolland - The Domino Theory

 

I love that disc. The Bolland brothers are from The Netherlands and this was released back in 1981. Status Quo did a cover of 'You're In The Army Now' and it was a big hit in 1986.

 

Not sure it's up your alley but I grew up with this kind of music back in the day...

[Stefan]

 

 

Bolland - The Domino Theory

 

I love that disc. The Bolland brothers are from The Netherlands and this was released back in 1981. Status Quo did a cover of 'You're In The Army Now' and it was a big hit in 1986.

 

Not sure it's up your alley but I grew up with this kind of music back in the day...

 

 

[KarpetRydOFunk]

I want that disc by The Works. They later changed their name to Wall of Silence and went more Heavy AOR. Axe him if he's willing to sell it. ;}

[Kim_Hp]

Bite The Bullet - ST

Outrider - No Way Out

Bricklin - ST

These are high-tech AOR classics mate. Check 'em out.

[Glen]

How come none of you told me about this cd Work Of Art, im very upset, I just got this, and found it absolutely killer!

New album due this year as well!!

[Leykis101]

Shit! Ok, I absolutely fucking love and addicted to this Bricklin disc, it's exactly what I was looking for, that St.John had the exact kind of sound I like as well, I wasn't quite as into Bolland, but I had heard 2 of the songs on it before, and just didn't know thats who performed them, I highly enjoyed the majority of the discs, I thought Cvello was a little to elevator music for my tastes, but I noticed something else, along time ago I posted on The Power Station album, and Tony Thompson, their drummer, and how that album had the most unique sounding drums I'd ever heard, so I am listening to that Distance CD, and about half way through, on the 3rd or so listen, it smashes me right in the face, where the fuck have I heard this drum sound and style, I look in the credits, and who the fuck is drumming on it?? Mr. Tony Thompson, albeit, not to the extent it is in the Power Station album, but he is slamming those fucking drums every bit as hard, my step dad through me another stack of discs to check out, in it was the band Boom Crash Opera, I fucking like these guys, anybody else heard them? I also checked out a band named Lava the CD called Fire, which I enjoyed, also a band called Pandance, and a band it sounds like he took off a record called Heroes, I wish there was more of this shit, and it seems like it may be the hardest genre to track down CD for, I dont understand why this is, but anymore recommendations you can post, I will check them all out, one way or another, no matter how difficult it may be. thanks guys.

[KarpetRydOFunk]

So, about that The Works album... would he part with it?

[Leykis101]

Oh you were serious? shit I dont know bro, he's kind of weird about that shit, he's had most of these cd's since they came out, is The Works hard to find or something? I can ask him, but he will probably look to see why I couldn't just go buy my own, he always does shit like that, so I can ask, my bet is he probably isn't interested, but you never know, he surprises me sometimes, I will axe him when I see him Thurs night.

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Oh you were serious? shit I dont know bro, he's kind of weird about that shit, he's had most of these cd's since they came out, is The Works hard to find or something? I can ask him, but he will probably look to see why I couldn't just go buy my own, he always does shit like that, so I can ask, my bet is he probably isn't interested, but you never know, he surprises me sometimes, I will axe him when I see him Thurs night.

Well, there are copies on eGay for between $40-60, but I'm not ready to pay that much.

[Mr.AOR]

@ Leykis101

 

Call it Lite AOR,Hi-Tech AOR or whatever, here's a few things you might like.

 

Paul Pesco - I'm Hypnotized http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xdwhvP_yrI from the album Make It Reality

 

Chris Eaton - Vision http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xigw_vH6e1Q&list=PLtN4dmtHgNq5RHZWg6N-qmxQtM2-ng-V3 from the album Vision

 

Sheree - Heartache http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aip85NIOMu8 from the album Sheree

 

Shell And The Ocean - Facing Your Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm5TajAlzIc from the album Turn Blue

 

Well Well Well - One In A Million http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mbFjyCLyzk from the album Dangerous Dreams

 

Toyo - The Night You Saved Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mbFjyCLyzk from the album Magic

 

Jeffery Ross - God Knows http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrCwEOYdSBA from the album Personal Obsession

 

Jato - She's Got http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xch3kOoOO4Q from the album Jato

 

Ballard - Standing In The Shadows http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMj8WAmjtG8 from the album Standing In The Shadows

 

Chris Irvine - Frozen Rivers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4ie67iwS70 from the album Chris Irvine

 

Daniel John Ohm - Love Me Like A Rock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldb5Qp5iAVI from the album Time For Love

 

Downtown - Blaze Of Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZZI0wecMmw from the album Downtown

 

Device - Who Say's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxkiYJ5udqc from the album 22b3

 

Platinum Blonde - Crying Over You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OXNVCuCP-Q from the album Alien Shores

 

Surrender - Later http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM6gNdeXwpU from the album Better Late Than Never

 

Vienna - Talking With The Heart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3XM_UxoqTQ from the album Guess What?

 

Modesty - I Call For You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdgjPc1ed-g from the album Pieces Of Modesty

 

If you own or have heard any of the above then you know how good they are,if not then I hope you enjoyed them and you can track them down.

Oh BTW glad you really like the Bricklin album which I agree is superb.But my fave Bricklin track has to be Walk Away from the Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure soundtrack and also added as 1 of 3 bonus tracks to the AOR Heaven Classix remaster back in 2012.

Walk Away http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrduICZlxFU

 

 

 

 

[Leykis101]

@ Leykis101

 

Call it Lite AOR,Hi-Tech AOR or whatever, here's a few things you might like.

 

Paul Pesco - I'm Hypnotized http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xdwhvP_yrI from the album Make It Reality

 

Chris Eaton - Vision http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xigw_vH6e1Q&list=PLtN4dmtHgNq5RHZWg6N-qmxQtM2-ng-V3 from the album Vision

 

Sheree - Heartache http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aip85NIOMu8 from the album Sheree

 

Shell And The Ocean - Facing Your Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm5TajAlzIc from the album Turn Blue

 

Well Well Well - One In A Million http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mbFjyCLyzk from the album Dangerous Dreams

 

Toyo - The Night You Saved Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mbFjyCLyzk from the album Magic

 

Jeffery Ross - God Knows http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrCwEOYdSBA from the album Personal Obsession

 

Jato - She's Got http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xch3kOoOO4Q from the album Jato

 

Ballard - Standing In The Shadows http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMj8WAmjtG8 from the album Standing In The Shadows

 

Chris Irvine - Frozen Rivers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4ie67iwS70 from the album Chris Irvine

 

Daniel John Ohm - Love Me Like A Rock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldb5Qp5iAVI from the album Time For Love

 

Downtown - Blaze Of Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZZI0wecMmw from the album Downtown

 

Device - Who Say's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxkiYJ5udqc from the album 22b3

 

Platinum Blonde - Crying Over You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OXNVCuCP-Q from the album Alien Shores

 

Surrender - Later http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM6gNdeXwpU from the album Better Late Than Never

 

Vienna - Talking With The Heart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3XM_UxoqTQ from the album Guess What?

 

Modesty - I Call For You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdgjPc1ed-g from the album Pieces Of Modesty

 

If you own or have heard any of the above then you know how good they are,if not then I hope you enjoyed them and you can track them down.

Oh BTW glad you really like the Bricklin album which I agree is superb.But my fave Bricklin track has to be Walk Away from the Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure soundtrack and also added as 1 of 3 bonus tracks to the AOR Heaven Classix remaster back in 2012.

Walk Away http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrduICZlxFU

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah thats the Bricklin I got to, my favorites are For Her Love and How Come I, So I have a question to you Mr AOR man, I have absolutely been jamming this self titled Boom Crash Opera, but no matter how much I throw it around on here, cant get one person to respond about it, is it that unknown, or has nobody thought it was Hi Tech cause it sounds a little new wave? well ive learned a little new wave ive found some Hi Tech within, whats your thoughts on this band, and do they have anything other then this ST disc I got, and I will check out your list, I have that Surrender disc, thats more of the gigantic overproduced melodic rock that I also love as much, why is it this kind of music is so hard ot find on disc? is it just a matter of the fact it came out in the mid and early 80s, got pressed to disc, doesnt really have all that huge of a following, so it doesnt really get reissued? teach me, and I will jump on some of those bands, thanks bro.