Sadly this review comes a couple of days after John Wetton passed away as a result of cancer.

Originally released in Japan in 1994 under the title “Voicemail”, it was repackaged for the rest of the world in 1995 as “Battle Lines”.  This was Wetton’s second solo album, and the first since leaving Asia in 1990.  The sound further moved Wetton away from the progressive rock pedigree he had while a member of King Crimson, during the mid 70s, and even further toward the commercial AOR sound that Asia was moving towards through the 80s.

If you’re looking for the musical meanderings of King Crimson, this album is not for you. The album is firstly a vocal album,  full of soaring choruses and that unique voice that Wetton possessed. After hearing the songs it’s not surprising to see that the album was produced by Ron Nevison who produced commercially successful comebacks in the 80s for Survivor and Heart.

As he showed during his time with Asia, Wetton was first and foremost a song writer. He co-wrote every track on “Battle Lines”.  For this album his main collaborator is Bob Marlette who is primarily known for being a studio musician throughout his career.  Other writing collaborators on the album include Survivor’s Jim Peterik, John Young and Bruce Turgon. Performers include Toto’s Steve Lukather, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp, Damn Yankees/Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Michael Cartellone and drummer Simon Phillips.

Many of the songs on “Battle Lines” could have been played on rock radio in the late 80s.  Unfortunately rock radio of 1994 and 1995 was not so kind, hence also the lack of a major label release of the album. That’s not a knock on the album at all.  In realty the album succeeds as a very melodic showcase for Wetton’s voice. Even though there is no Geoffrey Downes the album is very keyboard heavy. Most of the songs are built upon piano or keyboard as opposed to guitar.  Highlights include ‘Crime of Passion’ co-written with John Young, ‘Hold Me Now’ and the title track, which is one of the best songs Wetton ever wrote.

If there is a knock on the album it is that the majority of the songs are the same mid-level tempo. But that would just be nit picking. Wetton toured the world promoting this album and did release to subsequent live albums, ‘Chasing the Dragon’ with a full band and the acoustic ‘Akustika: Live in Amerika’ both of which are worth picking up as well.