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Scott Grimes is a name you may be familiar with, but not as a musician.  He played Sergeant Malarkey in the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers," and currently is in his second season as Doctor Archie Morris on "ER."   Another actor turned singer, you ask?  Haven't we learned enough from Don Johnson and Bruce Willis?  Those of us who grew up in the '80's are still trying to erase those albums from our memory banks.

But Grimes is different – his style can be labeled "modern classic rock."  In other words, he makes music that sounds like it's twenty years old.   Livin' on the Run comes across like a long lost '80's album, as if he had recorded with Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, and Richard Marx.

"Sunset Blvd" portrays dreams of success in LA, while "I Saw You" is a breakup song in the mode of Styx.  "Best Days of Our Lives" revisits a familiar theme of nostalgia – it is "Summer of '69" in approach, and Journey lite musically.  "Around and Around" comes across as a Billy Joel tribute, if Joel played guitar instead of piano. 

Had this disc come out twenty years ago, Grimes would undoubtedly have a few hit singles on his hands.  He is no TV star trying to cash in – he sings, writes, plays piano and guitar, and provides his own backup vocals on several tracks.  The truth of the matter, though, is that the disc sounds dated.   For older (think: over thirty) fans, this isn't a problem.  I'd be amazed, though, if Livin' on the Run resonates much with the younger audiences.   Still, this disc was much better than I expected, and I find myself hoping Grimes will make another one.

Brian A. Smith
30 December 2005