The title track of Australian Country rock band Star's second album, Land of Fortune, has melodic circular rhythm full of late 70s pop rock, a melody Boston would have been green for with it's bright overdriven and acoustic rhythm guitar combo. Red Neck Boogie has one of the best boogie riffs I've heard while Gold fever has a mesmerising story about the gold rush against a shiny, smoothly distorted guitar punch and sweet laidback oriental but xenophobic bridge. The band improves on their 77 debut with less country pickin and mixing those lead vocals with more original guitar tones. In and Out of Love again displays some sweet guitar with a thick slide guitar and funk strum to elevate a more simple rocker with some cool lyrics 'I'm a victim of counterfeit sleep', while All Good Things Will Come To You in Time is a sweet one minute little ditty to keep listeners engaged. The record loses it moment with the by the numbers old time RnB workout I'm Ready which is disappointing.
So if you're wondering, my choice for the album's gem is Innocent Bystanders, a gloriously weeper of a track with it's sensitive vocals that reminds me of the Old English receded pronunciation of high tenor, Prog rock singers like Peter Hammill, Jon Anderson, Geddy Lee etc. The sharp hard rock turns are fine and also like Rush in their slamming delay effect, while the superb lead solos along with the wistful jangle multi guitar verse progression which is the highlight. Lyrically it's all about participation in lvoe and is sung with true heart breaking conviction.
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