Search - Human Clay :: U4ia

4.5 stars - another awesome JSS album!

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 05/02/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"1997's U4IA was the second album from melodic rock band Human Clay, one of roughly a million bands that featured vocalist Jeff Scott Soto. Seriously, where does this guy find the time? You'd think between Takara, Talisman, Axel Rudi Pell and God knows what else during the mid 1990's that he'd be tapped out, but then you run across an album like U4IA and think "wow, this guy can do no wrong (with the possible exception of the Biker Mice From Mars soundtrack)"



Human Clay, which also featured Talisman bassist Marcel Jacob, was a first rate melodic rock band, and U4IA was their best album. It has everything you love about high energy melodic rock. There are great guitar hooks (see the instrumental title track), infectious melodies, some sweet solos, and of course Soto's amazing vocals. Listen to the man belt out a song like "Speed Demon" and you wonder why they don't talk about him on VH1 Classics like they do Coverdale or Sebastian Bach.



If you're a Jeff Scott Soto fan, U4IA is a no-brainer. It's easily as good as his work in Talisman and Takara, and that's saying something. Honestly, it's hard to imagine any melodic rock fan not liking this one. It's a shame it's not easier to find and more affordable."