Hugo

Hugo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Now & Then
• ASIN: B000024E7G
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #252,156 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solo debut from one of the finest voices in AOR, September 7, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: Hugo (Audio CD)

It's a shame that all of the people who picked up a copy of Journey's less than impressive reunion album Trial by Fire couldn't somehow have been persuaded to grab the self-titled debut by Hugo, because it is exactly the kind of AOR album that would have won over a lot of new fans.

Hugo, of course, is the former vocalist of Valentine and Open Skyz, and has one of the smoothest voices since the great Steve Perry. His 1997 debut is an absolutely first rate pure AOR album, full of the kind of ballads that Journey made so popular in the early 80's. It's got plenty of keyboards and is full of lush melodies. It doesn't rock as much as Valentine (and Valentine really didn't rock too hard to begin with), but it is still a very compelling album. It doesn't hurt that three songs - If You're Ever Lonely, Crazy, and We'll Find a Way - originally intended for a second Valentine album appear on this disc. The fact that Gary Hughes and Vinny Burns of Ten are on board is just the icing on the cake.

If you're a serious AOR fan, you really need to have this great album in your collection. It's also a great album to give to someone who is into Journey, REO Speedwagon and the like to introduce them to the wider world of modern AOR.

The track listing is as follows:

1. Intro
2. We'll Find a Way
3. Walk Away
4. So Many Tears
5. Crazy
6. All That You Wanted
7. All the People You Love
8. If You're Ever Lonely
9. Desire
10. Standing Alone
11. A Tear in L.A.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In a word......Excellent!, May 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hugo (Audio CD)

Incredible singer. Incredible CD.

Hugo is everything Steve Perry used to be. The difference between Hugo and Perry is Hugo can actually write songs and his voice is still top notch.

I recommend this CD for anyone who like good music.

In a word.....Excellent!

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic of the AOR/melodic rock genre, February 19, 2011

By 

Nikiforos V. Skoumas (Athens Greece, Cambridge UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hugo (Audio CD)

"Hugo" is the self titled debut solo album of American AOR/melodic rock singer Hugo Valenti originally released in 1997. Hugo, mostly known for his late 80s melodic rock/glam metal group "Valentine", recorded this debut in Europe, England with the support of "Ten" front-man Gary Hughes who co-produces the album along with Hugo. Unlike the majority of solo AOR artist albums, "Hugo" features a stable line up throughout including Vinny Burns on guitars, Ged Rylands on keyboards/piano, Greg Morgan on drums, Gary Hughes on bass and of course Hugo on lead vocals.

Those familiar with Hugo's other works identify how close his music comes to the sound of legendary AOR/melodic rock band `Journey'; and this album is no exception as it makes direct references to the more subtle and radio-friendly side of `Journey'. Still the album includes a fair amount of rocking moments such as "Crazy", the opener "We'll find a way", "All the people you love" which are also personal favorites on the album.

The essence of this debut is very positive, obviously centered on the lyrical subject of love and at times going beyond that and getting philosophical. In terms of production you will probably be able to make out that the album is a 90's recording, without implying there being production flaws of any kind.

Having been almost 15 years since its release, `Hugo' should rightfully be considered a classic AOR/melodic rock album of the 90's that remained true to the qualities of 80s AOR and potentially laid the basis for the resurgence of AOR/melodic rock in the 00's.