Stephen
Neverland is a band that's clearly forgotten when they put out their eponymous debut back in 1991. Not only because the musical climate had started to change, but Neverland suffered from having a really big hit that can penetrate the radio and chart. Last thing I remember from this album is the semi-ballad, 'Cry All Night' and the midtempo song, 'Drinking Again' with a funky verse and U2 feel, but overall, this album is actually not a bad thing at all.
The melodic thing that runs through this band's vein was complemented with a southern feel, creating a unique mix that can't be found in most regular bands at those days. Apart from that two tracks, I kinda dig the opening track 'Running On'; the other ballads, 'Mama Said' and '10.000 Years'. Unfortunately, the rest are torn between bad fillers, average tracks, and completely forgettable tunes, such as 'For The Love' or 'Time To Let Go'.
And to adapt to the grunge movement, I believe I can hear a slight alternative feel to the sound even though the whole thing was still dominated by the typical 80s hard rock sound. The singer, Dean Ortega, has a very soulful voice and the vocal is truly great, but I also won't forget to give credit to Patrick Sugg for his impressive guitar delivery.
A safe album, not very enchanting, perhaps in the range of 70-75%, but harmless to have in your collection if you dig melodic hard rock, and you can always find it for a very decent price at the market.