Whilst melodic rock lives on, it's albums like this that continue to provide the heartbeat.

Guests such as Robin Beck and Rick Springfield on this album pretty much tell you know all you need to know about the style of music on offer here and the quality to engage such stars in their own right. I hadn't heard much from Jimmy prior to this release, but 'Wild At Heart' is the third album from this Luxembourg born, relocated to L.A., now based in Germany singer songwriter. The album is packed full of melodic rock of the highest order, a bit lightweight at times perhaps, but full of anthemic choruses, swirling harmonies and some great guitar work.

The influences at times though are all too obvious. Opener 'Live Your Dream' is a close relation of Bon Jovi's 'It's My Life'. 'Burn to Run' is 'Unbreakable' from their 'Have A Nice Day' album. If someone sends JBJ a copy, Jimmy had better make sure his lawyer is handy to fend off the plagiarism suits. 'When Your Smile Fades Away' also has its similarities to Bad English's 'When I See You Smile'. Yet despite all this, 'Wild At Heart' remains a genuinely enjoyable and classy release.

Robin Beck's vocals raise 'I Want You Here Tonight' way above the standard power ballad. 'Love Somebody' was a top selling single in Europe last year and is a quality radio friendly rocker. In addition we get three tracks written and recorded with Laurie Wiseman of Wishbone Ash and latterly Snakecharmer which keep the standard flying high. 'Different' with its 'Hey Hey' and 'Na Na Na' chorus along with the aforementioned JBJ influences make it no surprise to learn that Jimmy has also been working with Desmond Child. A final cover of The Knack's 'My Sharona' is a pleasant but ultimately fairly pointless inclusion in not being able to add anything to the original classic.

However, for those of us who grew up with REO Speedwagon, Night Ranger and Loverboy, this album is a joyous throwback to that 1980s, gone but not forgotten era. All its influences and similarities can't take away the the fact that 'Wild at Heart' is still a classy little gem that deserves a hearing in its own right. Jimmy Martin may be 25 years too late to achieve the sort of stardom that the album may have warranted back in the day, but whilst melodic rock lives on, it's albums like this that continue to provide the heartbeat.

Ian Parry