Shawn Michael Perry - Only the Brave

By Rebecca Hosking

Even though it is just a coincidence that this singer shares the same last name as Steve Perry, it blows my mind how much this gentleman sounds like the former lead singer of the band JOURNEY. When he belts out those high notes, you can close your eyes and think you’re listening to Journey’s, “Escape.”

This ten song CD is full of vibrant pride for who the singer is and where he came from. He paints pictures of hardship but also shows the remedy of rising above that and taking back what is rightfully all of ours, FREEDOM! With powerful guitar solos and high harmonic vocals this guy gets the job done. Nice variety of pumping driving guitars that lead you to melodic slow downs that put you in an indigenous trance.

Starting out with Run 2 U he begins by pointing out the everyday evils that we have learned to so easily tolerate and ignore, but then takes us to a comfort zone as he runs to his lover’s arms. That love can help erase the wrongs of all wrongs, the pains of all pains. This guy is passionate and brother I’m feeling ya! Then there is the song, “Freedom” which he translates in Spanish “in “Libertad” at the end of the compact disc, clearly his native language. Powerful lyrics that paint a picture of tyrants winning at the moment, but time will teach us to fight against those evils and rise above. The winners in the game of life are the ones who will not succumb to the evils around us. Nice translation although I felt it could have been changed melodically to fit the meter of the words. It felt a bit rushed and we all no the Spanish language have a lot of syllables “a veces” (sometimes). Moving on to “The Indian”, and “Family” as well as “Aboriginality”, I really believe these songs needs to be heard as it takes you a bit outside of your top 40 radio normality and opens your eyes to a world some didn’t even know existed.

Shawn Michael Perry is obviously a very passionate person and lives with pride and dignity when it comes to home, family, freedom, and the fight for justice. Keep up the good work! Not sure if it is mainstream, but I‘m thinking maybe it should be.

Rebecca's Rating:

3 ¾ guitars out of 5

CLICK HERE to learn more about Shawn Michael Perry or to buy this CD