This self titled debut marks the first of only two releases for the short lived 'Only Child', with the guy pulling all the strings obviously being vocalist / guitarist 'Paul Sabu', later to produced some very big names. Not quite sure how this found it's way into my collection, reviewing this now is the first time I've heard it in a few years and in all honesty can't see myself playing it much in the future, if you like slick Pop Metal in the style of 'Giuffra' or 'Night Ranger' you might enjoy this however.

'Only Child' opens up with the melodic mid-tempo of 'Just Ask' a fairly predictable affair, but separated from the average thanks to some sharp hooks and a solid solo, while 'Paul Sabu's' made to measure vocals suit this track down to the ground. Even more sugar coated is the slick, chart friendly 'Always', a kind of 'Night Ranger' meets 'Stryper' and comes complete with dated 80's keyboard work. Slightly more gritty is the sassy 'I Wanna Touch', the light-weight chorus is a real letdown, but there are some highlight here, although the lyrics are definitely not one of them. Like a trip in the TARDIS back to 1988 is 'I Remember the Night' the sort of song which defines a era, but is all too soon forgotten, could have been a chart topper back then, now is only of novelty value. Another song with potential but falling short of the mark is 'Love to the Limit' which opens up with energy and purpose and is further graced by a chorus that's pretty potent in the gang chanted fashion. The second half is brought about by 'I Believe in You', a carefree chart friendly number, personally can't take much from this, the keyboards again sound dated and ultimately pretty irritating. Sloppier still is the balladsy 'Save a Place in Your Heart'- we'll just pass this one, while 'Rebel Eyes' is too slick and over-produced for it's own good. Surely you can't go wrong with a title like 'Scream Until You Like It'? and you'd be right, this is better, grittier and executed with more purpose, 'Paul Sabu' does some nice work here especially vocally, while his guitar work is also pretty impressive. The album winds down with the 'Whitesnake' reminiscent 'Shot Heard Around the World', a little more Bluesy and while not poor, conceivably needed more work, especially lyrically.

If Pop Metal is your bag, then you will probably enjoy this, the vocals are good, the production is excellent (although of the time), but in my opinion, ultimately fairly throwaway material, that hasn't dated very well.