Album Notes

This six-song EP, released in September, 2009, is Barry Russo's third solo project. The style continues his 80s-influenced melodic pop-rock tendencies, though some of the tracks on this latest endeavor appear to contain a bit more of a rock edge to the vocals and/or production than Russo's previous disks.

On earlier releases, Russo established himself as an artist who blends optimistic, inspirational messages with an equally optimistic, upbeat musical style. As an artist, Russo has often walked the fine line between what could be industry-classified as Christian music or mainstream secular pop music. Even his mainstream songs have often been saturated with underlying spiritual messages. On "Back to Life," Russo continues this artistic direction, though he covers new ground by venturing into social observations about the world we live in, particularly on the powerful, energetic opening track, "Love Is a Beautiful Thing," (on which some listeners detect hints of a U2 influence) and the closer, "Home."

On this EP, in addition to participating in the writing, Russo also found congruent observations in the songs of Nashville-based producers Shay Watson and Joe Nash, as well as other writers. Also included are two very well-regarded 80s hits, which provided a continuity with Russo's heavy influence from that era and a tribute to his years as a working, performing musician. A toe-tapping, spirited cover of the Genesis smash, "Land of Confusion," continues the EP's rallying cry for reaching out to others and working to improve conditions for those around us and for society in general.

The remaining songs are continuations of this artist's already-established characteristic of reflecting on personal challenges and experiences (particularly here on "That Was Yesterday") and reaching out to the listener with messages of hope and encouragement (on the title track, "Back to Life," and on the cover of the 1986 song by The Call, "I Still Believe").

This compilation is a must-add to your musical library, and yet another enjoyable disk by this down-to-earth, everyman artist from the Northeast USA.