David's fourth solo outing is a clean offering of polished "adult rock" (that's the stuff your under-50 parents will listen to in their car). Instead of investing his guitar skill in bombastic rhythms and soaring solos, David goes after an almost Larry Carlton-like clean guitar sound. There's not really a jazz touch to it, just a very clean vibe.
The standout cut here, especially for the hard music minded, is the song written and sung by Steven Patrick (ex-Holy Soldier). "Winds of September" seems rather personal, as if explaining the rough departure Steven may have had from the band. "It was a lonely time as I remember/ When I was forsaken by my closest friends." It's an ironic collaboration, considering David's production chores for both Holy Soldier releases. It comes off sounding as a Holy Soldier tune -- although you don't hear double guitar leads.
The instrumental, "Bottle Tap," is an interesting foray into Texas blues sounding material. It's a pretty cool tune -- almost a "Blue Ice II." In fact, I would compare the album as a whole as closest sounding to In Scarlet Storm. The Other Side had a definite slant of heavy mood music a la Pink Floyd, and Surrender Absolute had a laid-back arena sound to it (thanks to vocalist Randall Waller).
While filled with good playing and nice sonics, I don't think I'm going to remember these songs for a long time. Don't quit making albums, though, Davey!