Robbie LaBlanc has been a hot vocal commodity these last few years in the melodic rock and AOR community. His latest and first solo album “Double Trouble” (Escape Music) continues his hot streak and is very close to my favorite project by him so far. LaBlanc seemingly came on the scene with the debut Blanc Faces back in 2005 (Frontiers Records) but the more seasoned AOR fans will know him from the band Fury that he fronted (along with his brother Brian) way back in 1985.

LaBlanc has that smooth, perfect for AOR voice and because of that it’s no surprise he’s been drafted into projects such as Find Me, Cannonballz and East Temple Avenue over the last few years. But now it’s his time to shine on his own with his first solo album. Along for the ride is none other than Tommy Denander (Radioactive, Frederiksen-Denander, Impera, etc.) and Brian J. Anthony (Lonerider, Overland) and it’s made “Double Trouble” a special release for sure.

The albums first two tracks, “Only Human” and “Start The Motor Running” are full on melodic rockers and made me think “Double Trouble” would be more like Blanc Faces 2.0 but I was proven wrong as subsequent tracks allowed the album to breathe and other styles came to the top. “Never Let A Good Thing Go” is a light and airy ‘80s inspired pop rock sounding track while “Voodoo Woman” is where the ‘70s vibe is introduced. Right from the opening notes you almost feel like you are being transported back to 1979!

“Pure”, which is maybe my favorite track on the record is pure (no pun intended) Westcoast AOR ala the late ‘70s/early ‘80s with its smooth and laid-back feel. There are additional late ‘70s vibes on some tracks and full on ‘80’s AOR sounds on others but it works well as the album is constructed in a cohesive manner thanks to producer and songwriter Denander as well as Steve Overland (of FM fame), who wrote songs and supplied backing vocals on the album. “Double Trouble” may have Robbie LaBlanc’s name on it but it’s a real team effort and that makes it special.

Further standout tracks such as “Temptation” (an AOR rocker) and “My Lips Are Sealed” (‘80s inspired AOR; think of Toto here!) are great tracks. “Better Man” is a mid-paced track with a combo of ‘70s and ‘80s vibes while “Sound of the City” introduces some subtle synth keyboard sounds into the mix.

All in all, “Double Trouble” is a real winner and will further enhance LaBlanc’s status in the contemporary AOR and melodic rock community. It has elements of all the previous projects that you know him from but doesn’t sound like any one in particular and that’s what you really want from any artists solo record. There’s ‘70s influences as well as straight ahead ‘80s AOR and the subtle use of keyboards even adds some small touches ‘80s synth to the proceedings. Well done, Robbie and team!