Led by brothers
Matthew
&
Gunnar Nelson
,
Nelson
brought
Rick Nelson
's sons a lot of exposure in the early 1990s. Like that celebrated '50s icon,
and
Gunnar
went for a polished, boy-next-door image -- wholesome sex symbols, if you will -- but their music didn't sound anything like their father. Instead, this debut album boasted a glossy, '80s-sounding blend of corporate rock and arena rock (sort of
White Lion
meets
Loverboy
Bon Jovi
, minus the "bad boy" element). Rock critics tend to deplore and rail against albums like
After the Rain
, but say what you will --
"I Can Hardly Wait,"
"Fill You Up,"
the chart-topping
"(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection"
and other melodic tunes are both catchy and likable. Granted, this type of pop/rock can easily become bloodless and mechanical, but the
siblings come across as sincere. For all its slickness,
has heart. ~ Alex Henderson