Customer Reviews

Across the Concrete Sky

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was lucky enough to buy this one at a concert and get it signed by the boys. I highly recommend listening to "Come to Me", along with "A Place Where We Belong" and, "I'll Find You".When I saw them, they opened up the show with an acappella "Now and Forever" followed by one of the best tracks on this album, "Shadow of the Sun" which they merged with the ending of "Sweet Dreams". It's hard to find a band that won't dissapoint you, but Russell and Graham never will. God bless y'all

Okay, I have read the other reviews of this CD which differ significantly. I thought I would lend some objectivity to the review section. This is a good soft album with one perky tune, "You Belong to Me". A couple of songs are a bit heavy and slow, but most are quite good. It was an act of class to add the song "Goodnight" at the end of the CD, since it is Air Supply's way of thanking all of their fans. As for the reviews saying Air Supply has lost it, I offer the following:
1. Air Supply still sounds very good.
2. No, Russell cannot hold notes as long as he used to, but he still sounds terrific! Give him a break!
3. Air Supply's style has changed over the years, so don't be expecting albums to sound the same way they did ten years ago.

This is a solid, although not perfect project from Graham and Russell. I definitely recommend it. I would have given it only four stars, but I wanted to off-set some of the unfair marks given by others.

Air Supply has managed to stay together for some 27 or so years, and somehow, they just seem to get better and better. Unfortunately, most people are unaware that they're still going strong. When listening to this CD, it's important to not just take the lyrics at face value, for each song holds a much deeper meaning. This is due to Graham's superb songwriting skills; his ability to evoke strong emotions in even the coldest of hearts. For instance, "We Are All Children" is Graham's special message to the world that each of us never really grows up, that "we all are somebody's daughter and son."

The album kicks off with "Shadow Of The Sun", something really unique a different from their "usual style". I have no idea how, but it's been described as even better live. The jazzy and upbeat "Big Cat" is next, a song that probably would have made a good single. "Love Is The Arrow" has a very interesting and beautiful underlying melody. Russell Hitchcock's amazing voice, which has held up incredibly after all these years, is at its peak on "Come To Me" and "Feel Like Screaming" (which I understand to be "his song"). And Graham Russell has never sounded better than on "I'll Find You", one of my personal favorite tracks. "I Want You", which Graham considers to be the perfect song for lovers to play to "set the mood", has a simple, very pretty melody. Who doesn't appreciate a good "sha-la-la" song? "You Belong To Me", an uplifting and inspiring song, is one of the more upbeat songs on the CD. The album closes with the gentle "Goodnight", and leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.

This album is definitely worth a listen. It probably could fall into the "adult contemporary" category, but it's really a style all its own. Here's to many more years of Air Supply!

I just finished listening to this album of Air Supply for the first time and must confess that I never thought that it would be so good. Somewhere down the road, Air Supply separated from the essence of who they were musically, and this album represents an evolution, a continuity of the musical style which took them to the top in 80's. Lyrics are beautiful and intelligent, conceived by the genius in Graham. Great quality arrangements, excellent execution and with great feeling.
Russell Hitchcock's voice sounds deeper and richer than before - which can take by surprise Die-Hard fans who did not listen to the duo in their more recent recordings from the late 90's to the date - but it's still him, with his unmistakable style and feeling. Graham assumes a more visible role in this work and is an excellent way to refresh a little the structure of their music. In summary: This is a great album and I believe that it has more than enough merit to become a Super Hit! Those Air Supply guys have good music inside them for another 30 years of succes...

I love the music of Air Supply and was introduced to their music by a friend. Oddly it was some of their later music that I was introduced to and not one of thier mega hits. This album fails to capture the magic that previous ones did. Their finest album in mind is "The Vanishing Race". Graham has taken over the job of lead singer on this album away from Russell. Russell needs to be the lead singer as he has the more dominant voice. The song writing was mediocre at best. I wish Graham would take outside song writers again and turn the lead singing roll back over to Russell. If your a mega fan you will find this album tolerable if you are just a casual fan, avoid this one.

Bueno, ante todo felicito a todos los integrantes de Air Supply ya que este disco merece todos los aplausos.
Coincido en que Russell debería cantar más. Y felicito a Graham por hacer canciones tan bellas y emotivas.
Shari tiene una excelente voz. El tema que mas me gusta a mi de este cd es Feel like screaming. (el 2do A place where be belong)
Aunque TODOS estan buenisimos. Ni hablar de I'll found you y You belong to me, excelentes.
Sinceramente. Florencia-Argentina.

Being a fan for many years, I have enjoyed music from this dynamic duo for many years, owning everything I could get my hands on (including some foreign imports and solo works). Over the past couple of years, however, I have come to the conclusion that Air Supply just doesn't bring the same tools to the table that it once did. I picked up this album at a show hoping to give them one last chance, wishing they had recovered from the dismal "Yours Truly" from a couple of years ago. I didn't, however, stay for the show because Russell is not singing like he did a couple of years ago.

1. Though I'm sure that there will be fans posting reviews making reference to how good the boys sound, frankly, Russell doesn't have the pipes he used to. His voice doesn't have the effortless range I used to listen to for hours. On this album, he sings in a lower register (often singing harmony parts below Graham), seems to be mixed low and resorts at times to a whispery delivery. Even his timber sounds strained on this album. It does not require a close listen to recognize Russell's transformation from a powerful impassioned vocalist who seemed built for Graham's huge epic melodies to very different singer. One can hear the transformation (or deterioration if you prefer) from "Vanishing Race" (in my opinion their last great album) to "Concrete Sky."

2. To Graham's credit, it appears that on "Concrete Sky," he's realized Russell's limitations and has gone with, for lack of a better expression, a team concept. He brought in a female vocalist, apparently to help fill out the harmonies. In fact, Russell appears to receive more help than ever, as many of his performances are shared or upon a backdrop of thick background vocals.

3. Also to Graham's credit, he wrote around the current abilities of those enlisted. There are no over the top melodies, no breathtaking vocals, just nice simple tunes (the kind Graham always used to sing alone). He does attempt to connect with a more classic Air Supply sound through heavy use of orchestration which helps a bit.

I gave this album two stars, simply on the strength of Graham's effort. This album is better than "Yours Truly." Fans of Graham should enjoy "Concrete." However, if Russell is your guy and the strength of his voice over a beautiful soaring melody is what you would hope to hear from Air Supply, you will be disappointed.

Wow, I've read some interesting reviews here for Across The Concrete Sky, and I decided that I had to share my opinon about this CD too. If you are a true fan of Air Supply then you know that Russell and Graham are very different individuals who bring their amazing talents together to make their amazing sounds and music. ATCS is a different CD. It appeals to the Heart. It appealed strongly to my heart. When I first heard these songs sung live many of the songs put tears in my eyes. We Are All Children Covered in Mud...I hope that I never grow so old that I don't feel that inner child in me that always needs to be loved. We all need a Place Where We Belong. Finding our way in the world is not always easy...it's comforting to know that we are not the only one that struggles with the feeling of wanting to belong. For several months my daughter and my grandchildren were missing. I played "I'll Find You" EVERY day until they returned. This song gave me strength to endure, it reminded me that love would remain even between the unseen faces of loved ones. I took great comfort from this song. How boring it would be if every artist sang every song exactly the same way every single time that they sang a song. I appreciate ATCS for the variety of songs and vocal ranges. I have listened to many many Las Vegas concerts and find that Russell's voice is OUT of this world! And the sweet soft voice of Graham brings me a feeling of love and joy every time that I hear him. Air Supply's greatest legacy is their Legacy of Love...and I'm glad for the several copies of this cd that I own and have given as gifts. Everyone can relate if they just listen to the words. You will draw meaning from every song and you will be deligted that you purchased Across The Concrete Sky!!

Being a fan for many years, I have enjoyed music from this dynamic duo for many years, owning everything I could get my hands on (including some foreign imports and solo works). Over the past couple of years, however, I have come to the conclusion that Air Supply just doesn't bring the same tools to the table that it once did. I picked up this album at a show hoping to give them one last chance, wishing they had recovered from the dismal "Yours Truly" from a couple of years ago. I didn't, however, stay for the show because Russell is not singing like he did a couple of years ago.

1. Though I'm sure that there will be fans posting reviews making reference to how good the boys sound, frankly, Russell doesn't have the pipes he used to. His voice doesn't have the effortless range I used to listen to for hours. On this album, he sings in a lower register (often singing harmony parts below Graham), seems to be mixed low and resorts at times to a whispery delivery. Even his timber sounds strained on this album. It does not require a close listen to recognize Russell's transformation from a powerful impassioned vocalist who seemed built for Graham's huge epic melodies to very different singer. One can hear the transformation (or deterioration if you prefer) from "Vanishing Race" (in my opinion their last great album) to "Concrete Sky."

2. To Graham's credit, it appears that on "Concrete Sky," he's realized Russell's limitations and has gone with, for lack of a better expression, a team concept. He brought in a female vocalist, apparently to help fill out the harmonies. In fact, Russell appears to receive more help than ever, as many of his performances are shared or upon a backdrop of thick background vocals.

3. Also to Graham's credit, he wrote around the current abilities of those enlisted. There are no over the top melodies, no breathtaking vocals, just nice simple tunes (the kind Graham always used to sing alone). He does attempt to connect with a more classic Air Supply sound through heavy use of orchestration which helps a bit.

I gave this album two stars, simply on the strength of Graham's effort. This album is better than "Yours Truly." Fans of Graham should enjoy "Concrete." However, if Russell is your guy and the strength of his voice over a beautiful soaring melody is what you would hope to hear from Air Supply, you will be disappointed.

I LIKED THIS CD, A FEW OF THE SONGS I DIDN'T CARE FOR, BUT THAT'S JUST ME, JUDGE FOR YOU SELF!!!! BUT I'LL ALWAYS BE A FAN, KNOW MATTER WHAT!!!!!