You probably remember the period when DEF LEPPARD started going soft right after their amazing lead guitarist Steve Clark died with albums such as "Adrenalize" in 1992. That album began a chain reaction that swept DEF LEPPARD from a Hard Rock / NWOBHM band into a softy Rock / AOR figure. Same was with the BON JOVI right after the release of "These Days", and I don't count the new releases that just gave him a bad name, at least from my end and not the money end. As you noticed I didn't look much fondly upon the two bands' changes and to tell you the truth, it is really hard for me to be sympathetic, but I am using these two in order to exemplify what I heard in the album "City (Days)" by the French duo SILENCE that came out through the American Perris Records. After listening to the heaviness of it all, sometimes constantly, why not taking a little break with an AOR / soft Hard Rock album? Therefore, as it would seem, "City (Days)", and its partner in crime "City (Nights)", which will be reviewed solely, came just in time to spread their relaxation upon me.

Though the opening dusk of another day in the image of "Begger's Day" left with a feeling that what will come next will be yet another Modern kind of Rock, its follower, "Father", changed my perception right away with a cool mix of late DEF LEPPARD and BON JOVI. For some reason SILENCE proved to me, not only with this track on its own, that they have something different than other AOR bands of the 80s even though they shared a few elements together. "Father" introduced me to the great voice of the guitarist and vocalist, Ben Venet, which really tried to overshadow his French accent with a singing pattern that reminded me no other of Joe Elliot. With its cool catchiness the song enhanced the importance of forgiving, especially to such an imperative family member as a father. Makes you want to think ah? "Daydreaming" threw me back to another DEF LEPPARD moment yet with a fine harmonic nature that once BON JOVI songs shared. The song is really simple, it has cool rhythms, some were more electric and did I say a little heavy than usual? In addition there is, of course, a solo, rather short, but to the point.

"Footsteps", another great song, reminded me of an AOR version of BON JOVI with an amazing touch on the guitar work by the duo, especially the nice solo. Here Venet sounded to me more like Bon Jovi than Elliot but you will surly notice how he mixes these two voice patterns into something masterfully beautiful. "The End Of The Day" really mesmerized me. Despite the fact that it is equal to the latter it didn't end up as cheesy as I thought it would. When it comes to AOR and not ending up cheesy, this is a sort of class ladies and gentlemen. The chorus is amazing, harmonic, a little boy bandish but with the mixture of the acoustic guitarist and piano, it's a treasure. When the solo comes to shove, though very short and that is a pure drag, it's a gleaming moment. "Business" is the most Metallic or Hard Rocking song of the entire album. I didn't expect that, not that it was a blow below the belt, but it reminded me of the "Hysteria" era of DEF LEPPARD. As a huge fan of both the album and that band's 80s era, that song wasn't too hard to digest. Such catchiness is golden and when it touches you, it has quite an effect.

Nonetheless, I can't crown "City (Days)" as something to be recognized as mind blowing. In overall, this is a good release showing some good examples of refined AOR with bits of Hard Rock. There were a lot of mixed emotions when I came down with the final grade of this release as I liked its poignant features but on the other hand there were tracks that were a little dry and uninteresting. I like the sound and edge of this duo. I just hope that "City (Nights)" will do me even more good than this one because I am a night person in general. Maybe that would help my judgment? Only the album will tell.