Ahhh, the new FOREIGNER CD has been in my hands for the last few weeks and I have to say I’m digging it. I’ve read several remarks, such as the record is too ballad-heavy or the songs just aren’t exciting enough but I have to disagree.

"Can’t Slow Down" is the first new studio record by the band that is now down to just one original member in Mick Jones, but he’s certainly surrounded himself with some top-notch musicians to carry on the legacy that is FOREIGNER. Singer Kelly Hansen (ex-HURRICANE) was brought onboard approximately four years ago and has joined with former DOKKEN bassist Jeff Pilson, longtime member Tom Gimbel and drummer Brian Tichy and keyboardist Michael Bluestein to complete the current lineup.

The new record opens with the rocking "Can’t Slow Down" and has the band firing on all cylinders as the song is truly all FOREIGNER in sound. It’s vintage sounding and fresh all at the same time. The record takes turns at going from upbeat material to ballads with each song but the quality can’t be denied. Let’s face it, FOREIGNER built its legacy on AOR and what some like to call "corporate rock" and that is what you get with "Can’t Slow Down". That’s not a bad thing and it certainly doesn’t make the album less exciting as some might indicate.

Songs like "In Pieces", "Living In A Dream", "Give Me A Sign", "Ready" and "Angel Tonight" rock like you’d expect any AOR anthem should while ballads like "When It Comes To Love" (a personal favorite and contender for my song of the year!), "I Can’t Give Up" and "I’ll Be Home Tonight" showcase the talent within the band. Hansen turns in a solid performance throughout and should be considered MVP of the Year for maintaining the FOREIGNER sound with his GRAMM-esque vocals while throwing in enough of his own style. It should satisfy any longtime fan of the band for sure.

The record is being sold exclusively through Wal-Mart here in the US and is being packaged with a re-mixed disc of classic tunes and a DVD compilation of live and behind-the-scenes footage. It’s quite a value and hopefully now that the band has new material to showcase on their relentless touring schedule it will energize them to keep this band going for many more years to come.

I recently caught the band in concert and I have to say although I did have the term "corporate rock" jump into my head once or twice during the show I couldn’t believe how many great songs this band has in its catalog. Now that the new record adds a few more great songs to the legacy, I can see why the band chose the title "Can’t Slow Down"!