Last Look at Eden

After successfully modernizing their sound with two acclaimed comeback albums, Europe felt secure enough in their new identity to return to the high-flying pop metal of their early career on 2009’s Last Look at Eden. “New Love in Town” and “In My Time” are a perfect mix of ragged and immaculate, as Europe take the pop sensibility of their high-profile years and mix in more grittiness. They no longer seemed intent on being as aggressive as Pantera. Instead, they embraced the loose-but-fierce rock 'n' roll of “The Beast” and “Gonna Get Ready,” which have more in common with vintage Guns N’ Roses than Europe did when they were actually contemporaries of G’N’R. Their taste in vintage and modern influences comes together on the title track. A power ballad for the 21st century, it lets listeners imagine what it might sound like if Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, and U2 collaborated on a single song.