Customer Reviews

Far Beyond the World

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ten is considered to be an AOR outfit, although really they are closer to metal than arena rock. The lyrics on this particular album are unusal for Ten, being pure AOR fluff. But the music and especially the vocal melodies on this record are as good as anything Hughes has written. Do not pass on this one. They don't make music like this anymore.

With their 2001 album Far Beyond the World, Gary Hughes and Ten strike a balance between the laid back AOR of Name of the Rose and the epic melodic hard rock of The Robe. I tend to prefer their heavier, more epic material, but even I have to admit the band's lighter stuff is still pretty impressive.

Like all Ten albums, Far Beyond the World is a very high quality melodic rock album. In addition to Gary Hughes's impressive vocal ability, he's also a first rate songwriter and producer, and those talents are definitely on display here. Even though the album jumps from epic rockers (Scarlet and the Grey, Heart Like a Lion, and the monster rock track Glimmer of Evil) and radio-ready ballads (What About Me, Far Beyond the World), they're all really good songs, and the album works as a whole.

Ten (minus Vinny Burns unfortunately) would move even further in the AOR direction with their follow-up album Return to Evermore. If you're a Ten fan, then you're obviously going to need to get this album. It's also a pretty decent starting point for new listeners, as it gives you a good idea of the band's range.

If you are a melodic rock fan and you haven't discovered TEN, you need to!
Far Beyond the World is their best since The Name of the Rose. S/T and Name of the Rose are the two best albums in the Ten catalogue, although they all have moments of greatness. I liked Babylon (the album preceding this one) quite a bit, but I wasn't crazy about certain aspects of the production/mixing. That's not an issue here. Everything sounds crystal clear, and explodes out of the speakers.
Gary's songwriting and singing is up to his normal high standards, and Vinny's guitar work is typically outstanding. If you are a Ten fan, you need to get this. You won't be disappointed!