Circus Bar

Brian Howe | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 9, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Frontiers Records
• ASIN: B00319DX60
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #125,729 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I'm Back

2. Life's Mystery

3. There's This Girl

4. Could Have Been You

5. Surrounded

6. Flying

7. How It Could Have Been

8. My Town

9. How 'Bout That

10. Feels Like I'm Coming Home

11. If You Want Trouble

12. Feelings

13. Holy Water

14. Little George Street.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars He's back!, March 11, 2010

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circus Bar (MP3 Download)

"I'm Back" is a fitting opening number for Circus Bar, the long-awaited second album from former Bad Company vocalist Brian Howe. It's been a long time since 1997's Tangled in Blue (or Touch, if you have the 2003 reissue), and it seems like every year I would read another interview where Howe would tease us with the possibility of new music.

Tangled In Blue was a very light, pure AOR album, and Howe promised a harder rocking album this time around. Well, Circus Bar still has plenty of slow and sappy love songs, but there is definitely more of a rock edge this time around. The first four tracks are all upbeat rockers, as is the hard-hitting "If You Want Trouble." I'd have loved it if the rest of the album was in the same style, but the second half of Circus Bar is pretty low key. Still, with a voice like Howe's, even the radio-friendly love songs sound that much more impressive. He sounds about as good as he did on those classic (to some, at least) Bad Company albums. The only real dud on Circus Bar is "My Town", an ode to football and the heartland where Howe seems to be channeling his inner Toby Keith (or maybe John Cougar Mellencamp).

In addition to the new material, Howe also revisits his Bad Company days with new versions of "How About That" and "Holy Water." The updated "How About That" is kid of flat, actually, but the acoustic version of "Holy Water" was a cool touch.

Was it worth waiting 13 years for? Probably not. It's still great to hear Howe's warm powerful voice again though. As long as you're not expecting another Holy Water, fans of Howe's work in Bad Company should enjoy Circus Bar, as should anyone who enjoyed his earlier solo material. Hopefully he won't keep us waiting quite so long for a follow-up.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than I expected!, March 24, 2010

By 

Chris Martin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circus Bar (Audio CD)

A great CD from beginning to end. I totally disagree with the review below that says the CD blows and there are no hooks. The CD is full of hooks and melody. Much better than his last CD...The version of Holy Water is very different but I actually like it better than the original. Highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must buy for any '80's era Bad Co Fan or AOR fan!, September 20, 2010

By 

jrnyroks "George" (Hendersonville NC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Circus Bar (MP3 Download)

I've always been a Bad Company fan, but I actually preferred the '80's era band fronted by Brian Howe. I saw them in concert with Damn Yankees somewhere around 1990, and it was one of the best "sounding" shows I've ever been to.

Having said that, I read a favorable review for "Circus Bar" on [...] last week, and came over to Amazon to give it a listen- without hesitation, I bought the digital download. I've been playing it ever since. Howe's voice sounds just like it did in his Bad Company heyday, and the songs are high quality, and fun to listen to. There are a couple of Bad Company songs that have been re arranged for this album, and they work.

All in all, a great album, and I rate it as a must buy.