Category: Melodic Rock | AOR

Album-oriented rock (abbreviated AOR) is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists. AOR evolved from progressive rock radio in the mid-1970s, using research and formal programming to create an album rock format with greater commercial appeal.

Tony Carey – Blue Highway (2018 Expanded Edition), MP3+FLAC

Keyboardist / vocalist TONY CAREY started a successful solo career after his time with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow. ‘Blue Highway’ is one of our favorite Carey solo LP’s, originally released in 1985 so you guess which kind of sound to expect. This Blue Highway (2018 expanded edition) is a welcomed reissue to re-discover this very good album, plus 2 extra tracks.
More AOR oriented than his previous solo works, Carey’s ‘Blue Highway’ sports that 1985 polished sound production handled by Peter Hauke (White Lion) and mastered by Greg Fulginiti (Aerosmith, Whitesnake).

‘We Wanna Live’ is a wonderful opener, a racing AOR number with fine guitars / synths and a catchy chorus. ‘She Moves Like A Dancer’ bring to mind Michael Stanley Band, a very American tune with a home-grown, earthy rock and roll sound, with huge use of melody.
‘Live Wire’ is classic Carey, and classic ’80s; a midtempo full of atmosphere which has a lot in common with the Canadian AOR sound from the era: pristine sound and clean arrangements. Title track ‘Blue Highway’ is an elegant, suit & tie AOR ballad, ‘Love Don’t Bother Me’ goes for radio friendly poppy lite AOR, then ‘Katy Be Mine’ has some of The Synch melodic rock to it.

‘Like A Rock’ brings back uptempo riffs, a mix of strong guitars, synths and Carey’s raspy vocals, overall resulting like a Bryan Adams tune off ‘Reckless’. The extra tracks were recorded in the Nineties, more focused in Tony’s vocals and interesting lyrics than the ‘glossy’ sound design.
A really welcomed reissue to hear again this well-crafted collection of songs with that mid-Eighties magic.
Highly Recommended

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Cats In Space – Kickstart The Sun – 2022 (2 CD Edition), FLAC+MP3, CD w/Scans


Genre: AOR, Power Pop, Pop Rock
Media: 2 x CD, Album, Limited Edition
Country of disc (release): UK
Year of publication: 2022
Publisher (label): Harmony Factory
Catalog number: HF14
Country of artist (group): UK
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Kako Louis – III – 2024


Genre : Rock/ AOR / Pop Rock
Year : 2024
Country : Brazil
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Jair Edil – 1999 E.N.C 2024


Genre : AOR
Year : 2024
Country : Spain
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NITRATE – Feel The Heat [Deluxe Edition] (2024)

British melodic rock / AOR band NITRATE is about to release the Deluxe Edition of their latest album, “Feel The Heat”, on December 20th via Frontiers Music. Vocalist Alexander Strandell comments: “It feels great to give the fans something more from this amazing album. It’s an honour to be involved with the Nitrate guys.”

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Cats In Space – Time Machine – 2024+4, FLAC+MP3, CD w/Scans


Genre: AOR, Power Pop, Pop Rock
Media: CD, Unofficial Release
Country of disc (release): RU
Year of publication: 2024
Publisher (label): Esoteric Antenna
Catalog number: EANTCD1109
Country of artist (group): UK
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Razor Sharp – Razor Sharp [Deluxe Edition Retrospect] 2017, MP3+FLAC

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As requested, here’s the pretty awesome New Jersey ’80s band RAZOR SHARP, and their album released by Retrospect Records some time ago – all ’80s recorded material previously unreleased. The Retrospect CD sold out, so the band re-released tha album themselves now titled ”On My Way / Deluxe Edition” adding extra tracks.

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BLUE TEARS – The Innocent Ones [AOR Heaven Records] (2006), MP3+FLAC

BLUE TEARS, after finally getting released the recorded material for their second album that never crystallzed back in 1991 – the two volumes we featured yesterday ‘Dancin’ On The Back Streets’ and ‘Mad, Bad & Dangerous’ – made an arrangement with AOR Heaven Records for a new album.

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Roa’s Ark – Roa’s Ark (2024)


Year of manufacture: 2024
Genre: Progressive Rock / Fusion
Country: USA
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Grand Illusion – The Book Of How To Make It (2001) Lossless+MP3

Artist: Grand Illusion  Album: The Book Of How To Make It  Year: 2001  Genre: Melodic Rock, AOR  Format: APE (image+.cue, log, scans) | MP3 CBR 320  Size: 424 Mb | 170 Mb

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