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Great White – Elation (Album Review)
Great White – Elation
2012, Frontiers Records
1. (I’ve Got) Something For You … 4:31
2. Feelin’ So Much Better … 5:04
3. Love Train … 4:46
4. Heart Of A Man … 4:37
5. Hard To Say Goodbye … 5:19
6. Resolution … 5:18
7. Shotgun Willie’s … 5:07
8. Promise Land … 5:59
9. Lowdown … 5:56
10. Just For Tonight … 4:44
11. Love Is Enough … 6:05
12. Complicated … 4:16
Band:
Terry Ilous – Vocals
Mark Kendall – Guitar
Michael Lardie – Guitar, Keyboards
Scott Snyder – Bass
Audie Desbrow – Drums
Producer: Michael Lardie
There is one ingredient that’s missing from this album and it’s a very noticeable ingredient. Jack Russell, one of my favorite rock vocalists, is no longer a member of Great White. Well, he’s not a member of this particular version at least. Long story short, Russell now has a band called “Jack Russell’s Great White” while Great White has acquired the services of XYZ singer Terry Ilous.
It’s another L.A. Guns situation. We’ve got two bands using the same name, playing the same songs to the same niche audience and taking shots at each other in the press. Hopefully this won’t go on for too long because unlike the L.A. Guns situation, lawyers are involved and it would be nice for Russell and Great White to put this ugly incident behind them.
As far as I’m concerned this band that has just released Elation is the real Great White. I’d love and would prefer Jack back in the band, I have nothing against Russell, I’m actually looking forward to any new music his new group can put out but this is the deal real just like I think the Phil Lewis version of L.A. Guns is the only legit version of LAG. Time will tell which band is superior but I’ll be judging that based on new material only.
So, yeah, Russell is out, Ilous is in and the difference is quite noticeable. That’s nothing against Ilous though. Terry is a great singer and has done a fine job no matter what band he’s in. XYZ has some great tunes but I will admit it’s hard to accept Great White without hearing Jack Russell. There are times when he’s doing his best to sound like Russell but on other songs he comes across like Jeff Keith from Tesla. Ilous is good on Elation, he’s just no Jack Russell.
As for the music itself… It sounds like Great White to me. I know there were some complaints about Rising (which I liked a lot) being too laid back but I don’t think there should be too many complaints about Elation being soft. I felt Back to the Rhythm had some subtle modern moments but Elation gets back to basics with the band’s signature bluesy hard rock Led Zep-influenced sound. Yeah, there are some laid back moments, some slow burners, but that’s always been the Great White way. It’s not like they are playing acoustic rock.
In comparison to the last two albums, I place Elation slightly below Back to the Rhythm and on par with Rising, but this is coming from a guy who enjoyed both of those albums and doesn’t think Great White has ever released a bad record.
Sure, if Russell sang on this album it would’ve given Elation more impact but I think any Great White fan that truly listens to this album with an open mind will find it to be an enjoyable effort. Russell is so identifiable as the voice of Great White, I know having another singer in the band is a tough pill to swallow. This is not a classic, killer release but it is very good and it proves to me that the band is capable enough serve the Great White legacy well even without Jack Russell.
Highlights: ”Feelin’ So Much Better”, “Love Train”, “Heart of A Man”, “Shotgun Willie’s”, “Promise Land”, “Love Is Enough”
http://www.greatwhiterocks.com
http://www.facebook.com/GreatWhiteOfficial
Zakk Wylde – Bringing Metal to the Children: The Complete Berzerker’s Guide to World Tour Domination (Book Review)
Bringing Metal to the Children: The Complete Berseker’s Guide to World Tour Domination
By Zakk Wylde with Eric Hendrikx
(2012, HarperCollins/William Morrow & Co.)
While I’ve always thought Zakk comes across as a cool guy, I’ve never been a huge fan of the music he’s played. That’s not a knock on his skills, I know he’s a great guitar player it’s just that Ozzy has never appealed to me much and I think all Black Label Society albums sound the same, give or take a few tracks. Still, when the opportunity to read this book came about, I figured it would be worth looking into because Zakk is a true rock star yet seems much more down to Earth than other “rock stars”.
If you’re looking for a detailed history about Zakk’s life, you aren’t going to find it here. You do pick up bits about Zakk’s early days and his family and home life but this is less of an autobiography and more of a humorous take on the good & bad that occurs on the way to finding your place in the world as a viking god of metal. The book is what the title says: a guide to world tour domination.
Mostly told through Zakk’s voice, co-author Eric Hendrikx handles a lot of the introductions to each chapter and a number of sidebars. Each one is so hilariously over the top, making metal sound so epic and majestic you’d swear these intros were written either by Jack Black or Manowar. There are also a few other “guest” writers such as UFC fighter Forrest Griffin, WWE pro wrestler Chris Jericho, TNA pro wrestler Bully Ray (aka – Bubba Ray Dudley), Zakk’s wife and various other friends & BLS bandmates.
This book is definitely not for the timid. The book is filled with very colorful language on each page and lots of gross out humor. If you’re turned off by tons of cursing, alcohol, detailed accounts of bodily functions and lots of talks about penis & vagina don’t bother picking this book up. The things Zakk says about his wife! That gal has a great sense of humor to sign off on this book.
There are stories involving Ozzy but the book mostly focuses on Zakk’s time since starting up Black Label Society. It’s obvious Zakk takes heavy metal and the Black Label brotherhood very seriously but at the same time everything is open for jokes. I really enjoyed the self-deprecating humor that Zakk displays in the book. Nothing is off limits and the book is written tongue in cheek. He’s not some rock star looking down on everyone trying to play it off like he’s the coolest guy around (though he may be) saying “here’s what you need to do if you wanna make it like I did, kid”.
Zakk may not drink anymore but he’s comes across as the kind of guy you could just walk up to and shoot the breeze with at a bar and have totally normal conversation. Books like these can sometimes be used as a weapon to take shots at certain people but Zakk doesn’t do that here (well, maybe other than the music labels) and I have to commend him for that. It’s a fun book with not a single self-important or mean-spirited page to be found.
While Ozzy fans and BLS fans should have a particular interest in this book, I also recommend it to metal fans in general if you’re looking for a good laugh and some fun/gross stories about playing in a rock ‘n’ roll band.
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Trixter – New Audio Machine (Album Review)
Trixter – New Audio Machine
(2012, Frontiers Records)
1. Drag Me Down … 4:08
2. Get On It … 3:45
3. Dirty Love … 3:41
4. Machine … 3:35
5. Live For The Day … 3:38
6. Ride … 3:48
7. Physical Attraction … 3:52
8. Tattoos & Misery … 3:33
9. The Coolest Thing … 3:37
10. Save Your Soul … 4:03
11. Walk With A Stranger … 4:33
Band:
Peter Loran – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Steve Brown – Lead Guitar, Harmonica, Backing Vocals
P. J. Farley – Bass, Backing Vocals
Mark “Gus” Scott – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Producer: Trixter
Can you believe this is only Trixter’s third studio album? The last studio album they released was in 1992 and since then there’s been an album of covers, a live release and a compilation. Of course, the shortage of Trixter material is all due to the band being inactive from 1995-2007.
New Audio Machine shows they haven’t skipped a beat and it feels like a natural follow-up to their first two albums. Call it pop/rock, pop, melodic hard rock, pop-metal… who cares! Trixter has launched a fun and infectious collection of rock songs on a world that wasn’t exactly begging for a Trixter reunion but should welcome it just the same.
I loved the 40Ft. Ringo project that Steve Brown & PJ Farley started up back in the early ’00s but that was an obvious attempt to sound current and fit in with the popular power/punk/pop bands of the day. Luckily, New Audio Machine doesn’t try to play catch up with today’s rock scene. This is honest catchy melodic hard rock with big sing-along choruses. “Live For The Days” bears a slight resemblance to 40Ft. Ringo while a few numbers are rock/pop that could make it to Top 40 stations but it all feels natural. I don’t think Trixter was looking to be trendy at all. This is an album that takes you back in time but that feels natural too. It’s just Trixter being Trixter.
Not that these guys are all bubblegum and sunshine. “Machine” sounds like Motley Crue circa Dr. Feelgood, especially at the chorus, while “Drag Me Down” is a dirty rocker that reminds me of Blue Murder. “Ride” is another heavy number that’ll put anyone in the mood to hit the road and burn rubber.
“Walking With A Stranger” is a cover of a Skid Row song. Skid Row originally recorded the song during the sessions for their 1989 debut but it didn’t make it to the album. I can see why it didn’t make the cut. It’s so poppy and upbeat it sounds out of place as a Skid Row song but perfectly fits Trixter.
Every song here is a winner. Trixter has delivered.
Highlights: “Drag Me Down”, “Machine”, “Live For The Day”, “Ride”, “Tattoos & Misery”, “The Coolest Thing”, “Save Your Soul”
http://www.trixterrocks.com
http://www.facebook.com/trixterrocks
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Tyketto – Dig In Deep (Album Review)
Tyketto – Dig In Deep
(2012, Frontiers Records)
1. Faithless … 4:56
2. Love To Love … 4:24
3. Here’s Hoping It Hurts … 3:51
4. Battle Lines … 3:30
5. The Fight Left In Me … 4:56
6. Evaporate … 3:42
7. Monday … 4:02
8. Dig In Deep … 4:09
9. Sound Off … 3:06
10. Let This One Slide … 4:29
11. This Is How We Say Goodbye … 4:41
Band:
Danny Vaughn – Vocals
Brooke St. James – Guitars
Jimi Kennedy – Bass
Michael Clayton – Drums
Producer: Tyketto
Honestly, I’m not too familiar with Tyketto. I know they are a melodic hard rock outfit that started in the late ’80s but I’m not sure if I’ve ever listened to any of their songs other than “Forever Young”. They’ve been on that ever-growing “to buy” list of mine of years.
At least now I can cross off their latest effort Dig In Deep. The original Tyketto line-up is back and Dig In Deep is the band’s first studio album since 1995 and the first album to feature the band’s original line-up since their debut in 1991.
Granted, I don’t exactly know how Tyketto has sounded in the past but I expected this album to deliver something with a harder edge when judging them solely by listening to “Forever Young”. Instead, Dig In Deep delivers an upbeat melodic rock sound with only few tracks where I think the band qualifies as “rocking out”. The album starts off promisingly enough with the modern sounding “Faithless” but for most of the album I wasn’t inspired by the music.
There are really only three tracks I would count as real rockers: “Faithless”, “Dig In Deep” and “Sound Off”. And all three are very good so it’s a bit frustrating that the rest of the album comes off as generic melodic rock. “Here’s Hoping It Hurts”, is another standout. It’s a catchy mid-tempo number with fun lyrics.
“The Fight Left In Me” is a bit misleading. It starts out very impressively with a cool heavy metal guitar solo then it drifts downward from there as it becomes an up-tempo acoustic-driven melodic rock song. Granted, it still features some good riffing and another good guitar solo but I can’t get behind the chorus.
This album just isn’t hitting the right spots for me. It’s obvious they are talented enough to bring some solid hard rock to the table but much like “The Fight Left In Me”, the entire album is a mixed bag. If these guys were to put out a hard rock album, I’d definitely be interested but their brand of melodic rock isn’t that interesting to me.
Highlights: “Faithless”, “Here’s Hoping It Hurts”, “Evaporate”, “Dig In Deep”, “Sound Off”
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Crazy Lixx – Riot Avenue (Album Review)
Crazy Lixx – Riot Avenue
(2012, Frontiers Records)
1. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot … 3:42
2. Young Blood … 3:47
3. Riot Avenue … 3:58
4. Fire It Up … 3:49
5. Downtown … 5:18
6. In The Night … 4:27
7. Church Of Rock … 4:04
8. Heatseeker … 3:01
9. Sweet, Bad & Beautiful … 3:47
10. Be Gone … 3:38
11. Only The Dead Know … 6:19
Band:
Danny Rexon – Vocals
Andy Dawson – Guitar
Edd Liam – Guitar
Loke Rivano – Bass
Joel Cirera – Drums
Sweden’s Crazy Lixx have returned with their third album Riot Avenue. I’ve never heard their Loud Minority debut but I think it’s safe to say this band is getting better with each release. 2010′s New Religion was a good album that’s worth listening to but ultimately it did not have a lasting impact on me. Riot Avenue is a different story. As good as New Religion was, the songs on Riot Avenue are much stronger as the band continues to draw influences from the likes of Def Leppard, KISS, Buckcherry, AC/DC and Motley Crue.
I feel like the band is taking baby steps to not be as cheesy as a lot of the ’80s influenced bands are. Yes, these guys obviously are inspired by that decade of excess and will appeal to fans of that same era but I detect a slight gritty edge this time around as the band becomes less Def Leppard and more Buckcherry. It’s not a major change of direction from New Religion but I think it’s worth noting and they’ve certainly gotten a bit heavier as they’ve added a second guitarist. The AC/DC influence seems somewhat new but it’s apparent on “Downtown”.
“Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” (WTF?) is the perfect opener. Fun, ballsy rocker that kicks things off right. I’m having trouble deciding whether that or “Church Of Rock” is my favorite track. Nipping at the heels of those two songs are the album’s closing track — the ballad “Only The Dead Know”. The rest is high energy rock ‘n’ roll that is sure to please all hard rockers that have a taste for glam, sleaze and pop metal.
It seems standard from Frontier Records these days but the production is great. I love all the backing vocals going on here and Danny Rexon does a great on lead vocals.
While New Religion proved to me that Crazy Lixx are a good band, it’s Riot Avenue that is beginning to cement the band’s reputation as one of the best melodic hard rock groups on the scene today. Riot Avenue is one of the year’s highlights so far for sure.
Highlights: ”Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”, “Riot Avenue”, “Church Of Rock”, “Heatseeker”, “Sweet, Bad & Beautiful”, “Only The Dead Know”
http://www.crazylixx.com
http://www.facebook.com/crazylixx
http://www.frontiers.it
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Murder Bay – Never Was An Angel (Album Review)
Murder Bay – Never Was An Angel (2012, Eonian Records)
1. Land Of Plenty … 3:57
2. Honey Child … 3:43
3. Outta Line … 4:12
4. Ultraglide … 4:25
5. Simple Man … 6:23
6. Dirty Work … 3:04
7. Never Was An Angel … 3:55
8. What’s Good For You … 3:22
9. Long Time Comin’ … 3:14
10. Keep Me In Mind … 4:04
11. Got No Business … 4:30
12. Around Again … 4:49
13. Song? … 4:17
Band:
Paul Trombetta – Lead Vocals
Michael Karafilis – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Bobby Reid – Bass, Backing Vocals
John Link – Drums, Backing Vocals
Producer: Eric Valentine, Rob Beaton & Murder Bay
Like Rattleshake, Murder Bay is a San Fransciso hard rock outfit that got their start in the late ’80s and worked with producer/mixer/engineer Rob Beaton. Beaton produces about half the album and the other tracks were produced by Eric Valentine. Valentine is a producer/musician who has produced for Slash, Third Eye Blind, Smash Mouth, Good Charlotte and Queens of the Stone Age while Beaton also has an impressive resume working on TV & movie soundtracks in addition to working with Guns N’ Roses, Santana, Buckethead and Huey Lewis & The News.
Unfortunately for Murder Bay, they weren’t as successful in the music industry as Beaton and Valentine would go on to be. Despite some praise within the music industry tgat included being named a “Band On The Rise” by Metal Edge magazine and being named one of the top unsigned bands by Music Connection magazine, changing musical tastes worked against Murder Bay. After the band failed to secure a record deal, they moved to Los Angeles but that did them no favors as Seattle was replacing L.A. as the hot bed of the hard rock scene.
Never Was An Angel definitely features some good tracks. “Land of Plenty” is a cool sleazy number, “Ultraglide” has a lot of bounce and swagger to it. “Simple Man” is pleasantly surprising in how laid back it is and has a jazzy feel to it. Those are the top three tracks for me.
The rest is solid hard rock from the period. “What’s Good For You” and “Song?” are strong rockers. “Song?” has a Van Halen vibe to it.
Never Was An Angel is a decent collection worth checking out for fans of the ’80s rock scene who are looking for something to spin other than Ratt, Van Halen, Cinderella and Poison.
Highlights: “Land Of Plenty”, “Ultraglide”, “Simple Man”, “Dirty Work”, “Never Was An Angel”, “What’s Good For You”
Jack Blades – Rock ‘N Roll Ride (Album Review)
Jack Blades – Rock ‘N Roll Ride
(2012, Frontiers Records)
1. Back In The Game … 4:21
2. Rock ‘N Roll Ride … 4:18
3. Hardest Word To Say … 4:37
4. Anything For You … 4:06
5. Love Life … 4:28
6. West Hollywood … 4:11
7. Born For This … 4:32
8. Don’t Give Up … 3:08
9. Say You Will … 4:26
10. Rise And Shine … 3:43
11. Hey Now … 4:39
Musicians:
Jack Blades – Lead/Backing Vocals, Bass, Guitar
Joel Hoekstra – Guitar
Will Evankovich – Guitar, Mandolin, Sitar, Backing Vocals
Kelly Keagy – Drums
Brian Tichy – Drums
Eric Levy – Keyboards
Christian Matthew Cullen – Keyboards
After enjoying Night Ranger’s Somewhere In California so much, I figured it was a pretty safe bet I would enjoy Jack Blades’ latest solo effort Rock ‘N Roll Ride. I wasn’t wrong and Jack didn’t let me down! The album rocks a bit harder than Night Ranger, isn’t quite as polished or keyboard-heavy as Night Ranger can but Rock ‘N Roll Ride still fits under the same melodic hard rock category.
Much like Somewhere In California, this is great album to listen to during the summer. The whole album brings to mind to the beach, blue skies, bright sun shining down, road trips, friends and pure fun. “Love Life” and “Born For This” say it all. Great positive inspirational anthems that are perfect to enjoy under the warm sun.
“West Hollywood” is a song that I almost swore was a cover, it sounded so familiar, until I read in the press kit that it was inspired by The Beatles and was co-written with Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander. There’s that same vibe familiarity with “Don’t Give Up”. That tune reminds me of Tom Petty. “Anything For You” also reminds me of The Beatles.
The ballad “Hardest Word To Say” is another fave but it sounds like something you’d hear on country radio these days (since country has basically become rock/pop). I can imagine Rascal Flatts doing this song. Maybe Jack should pursue a solo career as a country music artist? I’m serious, I would push that to country radio and see what happens. Back to the high energy stuff, “Back In The Game” and “Rock ‘N Roll Ride” are the hardest rocking numbers of the bunch and a good way to kick off the album. “Say You Will” is another fired up rocker.
Blades has developed a reputation as a great songwriter in the industry. He’s written and collaborated successfully with many artists and I’m glad he’s taken the time to develop songs for himself this time. Rock ‘N Roll Ride should be picked up by Night Ranger fans (after all, four-fifths of the band play on the album!) and any fan of melodic hard rock. Fun, uplifting rock album.
Highlights: ”Rock ‘N Roll Ride”, “Hard Word To Say”, “Love Life”, “Born For This”, “Don’t Give Up”, “Say You Will”
http://www.jackblades.net/
http://www.facebook.com/JackBlades
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My Darkest Days – Sick And Twisted Affair (Album Review)
My Darkest Days – Sick And Twisted Affair
(2012, Mercury Records)
1. Sick And Twisted Affair … 3:41
2. Save Yourself … 3:43
3. Casual Sex … 3:16
4. Stutter … 2:45
5. Nature Of The Beast … 3:03
6. Perfect … 3:51
7. Again … 3:38
8. Gone … 3:33
9. Love Crime … 2:59
Band:
Matt Walst – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Sal Costa – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Brendan McMillan – Bass
Doug Oliver – Drums, Percussion
Reid Henry – Keyboard, Backing Vocals
Additional Musicians:
John 5 – Guitar (“Casual Sex”)
Barry Stock – Guitar (“Again”)
Producer: Joey Moi
Well, when something is working, why change it? Just like My Darkest Days’ self-titled debut, Sick And Twisted Affair has he same producer (sans Chad Kroeger), guest musicians and dirty catchy club-worthy hard rock numbers that deal with sex.
There is a deluxe edition that features extra tracks a few alternate mixes and the same cover art but colored differently (I prefer the deluxe edition’s color scheme). I haven’t heard the deluxe edition but I’m really loving the fact that there’s only 9 songs on the regular edition. Always leave ‘em wanting more, never overstay your welcome. Helps to cut down on filler too.
Speaking of filler, the only track I would consider to be just that is the band’s cover of Joe & Mystikal’s “Stutter”. I loved their take on Duran Duran’s “Come Undone” on the last album but this one doesn’t work, IMO.
So getting to what does work, let’s start off with the lead single “Casual Sex”. Definitely the follow up to “Porn Star Dancing” and meant to appeal to the club scene but that’s okay because it rocks at the same time (and just like “Porn Star Dancing” there are pop and rock mixes available). With that song and others, I’m noticing keyboards being used a lot more. There’s very much a synth sound found on “Sick And Twisted Affair”, “Love Crime” and “Again” where the band comes across like a sexier version of Orgy (not that orgies can’t be sexy).
More in the typical modern hard rock style there is “Nature of the Beast” which I would place as the weakest original track on the album.
It’s really hard to pick the best tracks because I find myself repeating each song 2 or 3 times. On this day alone I think I’ve listened to this album 6 or 7 times total. Virtually every song will stick in your head and take up space. There’s so much single potential here. “Love Crime”, “Again”, “Save Yourself” and “Gone” are ready for rock & pop stations. “Save Yourself” and “Gone” are the two ballads on the album, great songs and I can definitely see them blowing up big on the pop stations.
As with the debut, this album is going to be one of my favorite of the year. Great collection of hard rock that has broad appeal. If you were a fan of My Darkest Days’ first album, you’re going to be a fan of this one as well.
Highlights: “Sick And Twisted Affair”, “Save Yourself”, “Casual Sex”, “Perfect”, “Again”, “Gone”, “Love Crime”
http://www.mydarkestdays.com
http://www.facebook.com/MyDarkestDays
Buy the regular edition at Amazon.com
Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock by Sammy Hagar (Book Review)
Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock
By Sammy Hagar with Joel Selvin
(2011, It Books)
At 238 pages, I was able to read this one over the course of a week. Let me tell you, considering how long it usually takes me to read through a book, I’m pretty proud of myself for that. I’m not one of those people that can pick up a book and knock out most of it in one sitting. It usually takes me weeks to get just one book finished.
Anyway, Red is good light reading but it has some darker moments like when Sammy talks about his abusive alcoholic dad and his wife slowly having a nervous breakddown. Other moments like when Hagar talks about the VH reunion tour back in 2003 are just plain sad because of how out of it Eddie was at the time. But it’s weird because when Sammy talks about his dad it’s almost as if he is glorifying him, yet the Van Halen brothers come across as low-lifes.
For the most part, Sammy is pretty upbeat on his view of life but obviously still has issues with Van Halen. He seems so free-spirited and easy-going about everything in life… except his old band. Sammy even makes the (oft-repeated and ridiculous) claim that Van Hagar sold more albums than the DLR era. Not even close. Why do people continue to say this? The feather in the cap of Van Hagar is that their albums always debuted at #1, not that they sold more.
The book does not revolve entirely around Van Halen. Hagar talks about his childhood, working the club circuit, Montrose, solo career, Mexico and his various business ventures. If my memory serves correctly, there’s a few chapters that didn’t make the book that were posted online at one time. One dealt with the divorce from his first wive and the other involved some more shady business dealings with VH and the new manager they had taken on at the time (that Sammy was not getting along with).
A good read overall. There’s enough Van Halen drama for those that like their biographies to dish the dirt while giving us a deeper look into the world of Sammy Hagar. Recommended.
Buy ‘Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock’ at Amazon.com
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Album Review: Rattleshake – s/t
Rattleshake
(2012, Eonian Records)
1. Shootin’ Whiskey … 3:36
2. Gypsy Queen … 3:23
3. Take Me Down … 5:10
4. Mudbone Delight … 4:08
5. Jump On Me … 4:12
6. Never Say Goodbye … 4:26
7. Rattleshake Boogie … 3:14
Band:
Don McBee – Lead Vocals
Ralph Longo – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Mark ‘Freeze’ Freseman – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Bryan ‘Coach’ Lujan – Bass, Backing Vocals
Steve Fletcher – Drums, Backing Vocals
Producer: Rob Beaton & Rattleshake
San Francisco’s Rattleshake was an active hard rock band during the late ’80s. Though the band had the pleasure of opening for acts such as Tesla, Warrant & Winger, with the hair metal scene waning and grunge rising up, Rattleshake’s fate was sealed before ever getting signed. At least they were able to record a handful of tracks that, up until now, were unreleased. The sessions were co-produced with Rob Beaton (who has gone on to do studio work for GNR, Sammy Hagar, Santana, etc.)
This is a pretty cool collection of late ’80s hard rock. It’s not glammed out or polished like so many acts of that era became. Rattleshake has a bluesy & sleazy swagger to them that should appeal to fans of Ratt, Great White, Guns N’ Roses (I mention this because Don McBee sounds a lot like Axl at times) and Babylon A.D.
The two biggest highlights on this 7-track release for me are “Gypsy Queen” and “Take Me Down”. “Gypsy Queen” is a balls-out rocker that should’ve been enough to grab any label’s attention if not for poor timing and “Take Me Down” sounds like a lost Great White classic.
“Mudbone Delight”, “Shootin’ Whiskey” & “Jump On It” are three other ready rockers that show Rattleshake could bring the goods. Of course, what hard rock band during that era of hairspray could resist recording a ballad? Check out “Never Say Goodbye” for Rattleshake’s soft side. “Rattleshake Boogie” is just what it sounds like. A fun number to close the album with.
If you’re into seeking out quality bands that should’ve had more success, Rattleshake is another good find.
Highlights: “Gypsy Queen”, “Take Me Down”, “Mudbone Delight”, “Jump On Me”
http://www.rattleshakemusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/RattleShake/290834037641169
