Ha, ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha! Wait ... what? You're serious? This is a real album? Wow, well, okay. Yeah, I'm sorry for laughing. I just figured you were having a laugh. Okay. Well, I guess I'll get to it.

GREG X is a Polish born guitarist that currently resides in London. And he, working with the vocalist of SHOUT and the drummer of ASIA / FIREHOUSE, is trying to bring back 1980s Pop Metal / Rock. "Dream" is made up of eight tracks packed to the gills with all the melodic vocals, keyboard flourishes and catchy guitar playing that you remember fondly from 30 years ago.

Wow, has it really been 30 years since the 80s? In my mind's eye, I can remember it all. Pop Metal glam boys dominated the airwaves; Music Television still played music on television; and the miniskirts ... dear God, those super-tight miniskirts.

Well, if you remember the pop glam of the 80s as fondly as I remember the girls in tight miniskirts, then "Dream" is the album for you. "As the World Spins Around" opens with a short keyboard intro, and soon a slick little guitar riff joins. The track is pretty-boy tough, and it features plenty of layered and soaring vocals. "Dream the Dream" kicks off with a riff that would be right at home on a POISON album. The song is full of keyboard sounds and melodic vocals, and the lyrics are obviously meant to be autobiographical and inspiring. "How to Love" is a sappy, sticky-sweet love ballad. Honestly, this song is formulaic and full of schmaltz. Clocking in at over six minutes, the track is definitely a little long, and it doesn't help that the lyrics are so repetitive. The only real break during this marathon track is an extended guitar solo. "Wake Me" is a run-of-the-mill rocker - nothing special, but I don't have any real complaints with it. "Stand Up" is my least favorite track, but it still has a nice solo. Actually, I'm sensing a trend where songs seem to be written just to showcase a guitar solo in the middle.

"Love and Hate" is a gruff little rocker, and it's a much-needed change of pace. Solid drumming and a gritty, mean riff make it stand out on this album of upbeat pop. And, of course, it closes with another ambitious solo. "Waiting On You" is a mid-paced rocker with a strong chorus. The chorus is repeated too many times for my tastes, but it's still a solid track. The album closes with the instrumental "Victory". Finally, a song where GREG X's guitar playing is not limited by vocals or melodies. The drums and keyboards hold down the tempo while the guitar travels through the sonic landscape. This super-musical track ends the album by highlighting GREG X's guitar talents.

Well, what can I say? It's a well-produced independent release that showcases every facet of GREG X's obvious guitar wizardry. In a world where the hair bands of the 1980s can still sell out amphitheaters around the world, there is definitely a built-in audience for traditional Hard Rock. And, it could be a lucrative proposition for this album if that audience actually takes notice.