Written By: Gdazegod

• Artist: Boulevard
• Album: Talk Without Speaking
• Label: AOR BLVD
• Serial: ABR 038
• Year: 2026
• CD Info: Discogs Release Info
• Country Of Origin: Canada

Lineup:

• David Forbes - lead and backing vocals, keyboards
• Andrew Johns - keyboards
• Mark Holden - saxophone, backing vocals
• Randall Stoll - drums
• Mel Stevens - lead vocals
• Corey Curtis - drums, percussion

Additional Musicians:

• Jeff Pilson, Paul Laine - backing vocals

Track Listing:

• 01 Banbury Green
• 02 Ready To Let Go
• 03 Talk Without Speaking
• 04 Perfect Time Of Day
• 05 Fly Away
• 06 Long Time Coming
• 07 Heaven Help Me
• 08 Start All Over Again
• 09 Halo
• 10 Thank You
• 11 Prologue
• 12 Only Love

Rating: 40/100

Weblinks: Site Link

Background

The glory daze of Canadian AOR will remember this Vancouver band with fondness, due to their first two albums from 1988 and 1990. Boulevard disappeared off the scene for a good 25 years or so, returning in 2017 for a long overdue return, though musically they became a band moving in lite AOR/soft rock territory for some. Nine years later, Boulevard return for another shot at glory, but the results don’t quite live up to the same past efforts from yesteryear. Not by a long shot.

The Songs

I read some other reviews elsewhere, just to see where the tea leaves lay. There didn’t appear to be any uniformity of opinion unfortunately. One bloke suggested the second half of the album was stronger than the first, which was a load of poppycock. If anything, the further the album went, the more sleep inducing it became.

Now many of you will know of my distaste of having a saxophone feature so strongly on a rock album. On this effort, the sax is everywhere. The album was also notable for not having any significant guitar solos. In fact, in the credits, they don’t even mention who plays guitar.

From my way of listening, the first two songs ‘Banbury Green’ and ‘Ready To Let Go’ are the only two with any real pulse. Most of the others sit in soft rock or ballad terriitory. Maybe if you were a new age guru, some of the dreamlike compositions might appeal. but come on, this is a rock band.

In Summary

Look, I know it’s been decades since their heyday, and it would be unfair to expect a repeat from yesteryear. Boulevard have found a groove, which combines classic soft rock, with a pastoral touch. It depends which side of the fence you sit. You’ll either enjoy it or sit back and go ‘ho hum’. I’m in the latter category. A big disappointment for mine.