Marx has been making records for other people, between albums and is back after over six years with his fifth album backed up with a new band. At the very first listen of ‘My Own Best Enemy’,Marx fans would make out that he has given a much more rocky edge to this album, but at he same time still retaining the beautifully crafted balladic tunes. Marx’s tonsils are still years later, remarkable indeed, soother and one of the attractions working splendidly on the 12 tracks. The lyrics are very personal, self - indulgent.

Richard Noel Marx, showcases crunchy alt – rock in When you’re gone that talks about a man who’s basically admitting his own failures and saying certain things happened due to his fault, without putting the blame on the other person. There’s also the lighter side in the breezy pop – rock Love goes on and a bit of lush in the stringy guitars of Again. You surely would not be able to give a miss to the youthful, upbeat and peppy sound of Colder and Everything good that has its good moments.

Most of the songs might be sad lyrically and even though it may be felt right through the whole album, its camouflaged by the musical score. This is what Marx is probably used to and does well.

Breaking ground on the balladic section we have Nothing left to say the very interesting Ready to fly and the saucy and sensuous signoff Falling. You could give a miss to One thing left, the rocky The other side, Someone special and Suspicion that are slow and unimpressive and certainly not standouts, but have neat lead guitar work.

Otherwise, the album is high on the quality scale with a satisfying assortment of strong, heady and well - crafted songs, both in terms of arrangement and delivery. The guitars shimmer in all the right places, the string section has the Nashville String players. The piano is somewhere, but not very much prevalent.

If you’re the mushy kind and expect Marx to give more of mush like his earlier masterpieces Hazard, Right here waitin, Now and Forever or even Endless Summer Nights, forget it, that’s nowhere on this album. Long time fans that grew up listening to it, probably won’t like this album, and rather settle for his greatest hits.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira