John Lodge - 10,000 Light Years Ago  
Estoteric Antenna
http://www.esotericrecordings.com/newreleases.html

Rating: B

John Lodge is best known as the bass player and vocalist of the Moody Blues.  Back in 1977, he released a solo album.  Now, nearly forty years down the road, he has finally got around to releasing his follow-up effort to his debut! 

Before we get into the guts of the new album John should get a bit of love for the work he's done with the Moodies.  Lodge penned some of their most memorable songs including "Ride My See-Saw," "Isn't Life Strange" and "I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock & Roll Band."  Lodge has always mixed emotional wanderings with classy musicianship, yet he never over thinks his craft.  It with that attitude that he created 10,000 Light Years Ago. 

The song "In My Mind" is as powerful of a song as Lodge ever wrote for the Moody Blues and his fans will be excited to proclaim this the best song he has written since the Moodies glory days.  More rock than roll, the song remains exciting after many plays and has the feel of a real classic. 

While no other song can touch this one in terms of sheer grandeur, the rest of the album stands competently on its own laurels.  The autobiographical "Those Days in Birmingham" is another emotive gemstone.  "Simple Magic" see Lodge taking his songwriting into a more reflective manner.

Musically, 10,000 Light Years Ago is a hodge podge of styles, from rock, to jazz, to folk, to pop, yet the songs are welcoming as an entire album listening experience.  Lodge crafts the songs with skill and allows both his creativity and the creativity of his band mates to come alive in the moment. 

Lodge describes his creative process, "Back in the 60s, when the dreams of a 'new generation' were being born, the Moody Blues wrote a stage show which became the album 'Days of Future Passed'. The theme encompassed the past, present and future experiences of our lives. When 'Days of Future Passed' was successful I knew that our decision to stick to our principles by writing and recording music we felt driven to create was the right one. Upon reflection I suppose in my work with The Moody Blues and in my solo work I have continued to stick to that principle."

The album sees Lodge reunite with former Moody Blues members Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder on "Simply Magic" making this a must-own for Moody Maniacs!  John also talked Roxy Music guitarist Chris Spedding into playing on the songs.  Spedding is an honest player with mad skills bringing this album up

a few notches! 

Lodge sums it all up by saying, "I think that this theme has continued in the music of the Moody Blues and in my music, and it's a musical record of our generation travelling through life. With '10,000 Light Years Ago' I have continued this theme of constant evolution, as everything in the future remains in reach, and although the past is behind us, it once was our future."

Track List:
1. In My Mind
2. Those Days in Birmingham
3. Simply Magic
4. Get Me Out Of Here
5. Love Passed Me By
6. (You Drive Me) Crazy
7. Lose Your Love
8. 10,000 Light Years Ago

John Lodge's Official Site www.johnlodge.com
John's Facebook www.facebook.com/johnlodgemusic
John's Twitter @johnlodgemusic

By Jeb Wright