October 29th, 2009 § § permalink
Oi oi!
Skid Row - Thickskin
The shock upon hearing that Skid Row were back together was immediately eclipsed by the further shock that Seb Bach had been replaced… who could even begin to fill those shoes? Well, like the idea of it or not, the reality was pretty fucking astounding in that new boy Johnny Solinger was in fact nothing short of an awesome singer. Still, for the die-hard fans and backwards-facing critics, the absence of St. Sebastian was enough to ruin any chance this album ever had of getting off the ground, and that’s a huge shame because it’s fucking good. To those for whom it really still is 1991, go listen to Slave To The Grind, and while you’re there, say Hi from me to John Major, George Bush Snr., the first Gulf War, Jeffrey Dahmer, Superbowl XXV and Chesney Hawkes. The rest of us can accept change, a world where a black man can be president of the USA, and where someone other than Sebastian Bach can sound awesome in Skid Row. This is a cracking album – the only thing I’d change would be to drop the unnecessary punking-up of “I Remember You” into “I Remember You Two”. Didn’t need that – but the rest of it rules.
Standout tracks: Born A Beggar, Ghost, Down From Underground
You’ll like this if you like: Buckcherry, A, Mötley Crüe
October 29th, 2009 § § permalink
Move over C.C…
Poison - Native Tongue
When I was 17 I was in a glam rock band, hanging out with other glam rock bands, spending all my time listening to glam rock bands. One of the biggest at the time was of course Poison, but they had one huge problem – their guitarist sucked balls. And so, in a move of cosmic jizz proportions, they junked him and got Richie Kotzen – one of the most awesome and able players on the planet – and made this album. And Jesu Jumping Christos, does it rock. Richie was allegedly (this is the story I heard at the time, I don’t know for sure) binned from the band for indulging in extra-curricular wossname with a band member’s wife, so they only recorded the one album with him, and that still burns because this record is *so* good it hurts. If you wrote off Poison as a no-frills no-thrills gimmicky party band, you obviously never heard this album. Get on it.
Standout tracks: Stand, Blind Faith, 7 Days Over You
You’ll like this if you like: Mr. Big, Cinderella, Skid Row
October 29th, 2009 § § permalink
Can haz memory lane?
Saigon Kick - Saigon Kick
This was the first CD I ever owned. It was 1991 and either for my birthday or Christmas I was given a new stereo, one with a CD player, so I promptly headed into town to buy something to play on it, and this was what I came home with, and it’s a fantastic rock record. Saigon Kick were one of those bands that almost did huge things around this time – they were opening for Extreme and releasing great albums – the followup The Lizard is awesome too, though after that they did tail off a bit – but somehow the planets never quite aligned. Jason Bieler’s guitar playing is so tasteful that at the time I rated the solo in “Come Take Me Now” as my favourite guitar solo ever. I’d take it down a few notches now (hey, I was 17, and I rated one of my own solos second best despite hardly being able to play) but it’s still a spine-tingler. This is a corker from start to finish – punkish in places, humourous on occasion (how many other rock records feature a kazoo solo in a ballad?), and bloody good throughout.
Standout tracks: What Do You Do, Come Take Me Now, Colors
You’ll like this if you like: Extreme, Skid Row, Guns N Roses