Don't Ask in Bloomington, MN

It's perhaps easy to expect too much after the stellar debut single
"Chains."
That's not to say
Arena
's debut offers nothing to the listener; it could have been far worse, since top session men
Tim
and
John Pierce
and drummer
Pat Mastelotto
(
the Rembrandts
,
King Crimson
) don't appear for nothing. Even so, a lot of
Don't Ask
remains twee. However, there are good moments in the shape of showcase single
"Chains,"
power ballad
"Heaven Help My Heart"
and the bouncy closing track
"Standing Up."
There's room for improvement then, although
can deliver some fine vocals, and
David Tyson
Alannah Myles
Amanda Marshall
) supplies some equally fine production. The gorgeous
"Sorrento Moon"
suggests
may yet become the
Astrud Gilberto
of Australia. ~ Kelvin Hayes