WOW! AOR music this pure in 2008… is that possible? Yes, I guess it is if you are listening to the debut CD by Swedish band WORK OF ART. These guys immediately bring to mind the sounds of TOTO and even BLANC FACES (both label mates on Frontiers!).

It seems Sweden has always held a high stake in the AOR market with classic bands like BAD HABIT, ARENA, TALK OF THE TOWN and DALTON. Well you can now add WORK OF ART to that list.

Singer Lars Safsund sings with an ultra-smooth style perfectly suited for this style of music. The opening five tracks hit you non-stop with up-tempo and catchy tunes that remind you of the great bands listed above. “Whenever U Sleep” gives the first insight into the TOTO sound with its David Paich-like keyboard sounds.

“Once in a Lifetime” is the albums requisite ballad and it’s played to great effect while tracks like “Peace of Mind” with its stabbing keyboards is total AOR-bliss.

There are a couple tracks that miss the mark here with “Like No Other”; and the album ending “One Hour” coming to mind but those are just momentary lapses in a great vintage-sounding AOR release.

Bottom line… this type of music is nothing new but if you are a fan of this genre you will find “Artwork” by WORK OF ART a welcome addition in 2008.