MITCH MALLOY - II

 

Here we go with the latest release by this North Dakota singer after eleven years... and the first thing to say is that this is the continuation of his debut album. This is a Rock album full of energy and full of great musicians as Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem), Bruno Ravel (Danger Danger), Phil Collen (Def Leppard), Brett Walker...
It's been almost twenty years since MALLOY's debut and is inevitable that his voice has changed, now he sound a little bit raspy and though he still keeps a wide range now he sings a couple of tones lower but the personality and melody of his voice is kept.
The album opens with I'm The One, a rockin' cut with backing vocals by Brett Walker that keeps all the feeling of Anything At All. Great opener with catchy chorus and good vibe to play while driving with your windows down and the buttom volumen at 10. Falling To Pieces will catch you from the first listening, is a fast and funny rockin' track that will make you move your feet from the beggining to the end of the song. In this cut MALLOY sings in a higher tone proving his voice is in perfect shape and ready to ROCK!!!. I'll Love You Still will decieve you starting with a piano that soon will turn into a blast of electric guitars becoming another rocking cut though this time chorus is not as catchy as the previous two track, anyway another good cut. Carry On is the first ballad in this album with MALLOY proving he's one of those singers able to shine in harder and smooth tunes. Chorus is backed by some warm hammond and beautiful backing vocals. Love Song is co-writen with Keith Scott (Bryan Adams) and in fact the starting will remind you of It's Only Love while On And On break the line with a different rythm and introducing some keys with special atention to the break after the guitar solo...amazing break and final part for this song.
The rest of the album keeps the same rockin' vibe with the exception of Take It All, a precious melancholic ballad full of passion and magnificent chorus with some elegant piano and backing hammond and As Long As I'm With You and All My Friends, two mid-tempos with some country vibe in the songwriting of the second one and with a final solo of almost two minutes after the break

In Summary, a fantastic returning of one of the most brilliant voices of Rock. If you enjoyed the debut album by MICH MALLOY this one is for you.

Sound bites:








Best Tracks (in order of preference):

Falling To Pieces
I'm The One
Take It All
On And On

This album is worth of 4.5 out of 5 ROCKS!!!

FEMME FATALE - S/t (Released: 1988, MCA)

This Albuquerque band released just one album back in 1988 on MCA reaching # 141 on Billboard charts. Waiting For The Big One was the second single from this album while Falling In And Out Of Love was the third reaching UK # 69. Though the album sold well the band decided to split after touring with Cheap Trick... Great Hard Rock with strong guitars, powerful keys and furious female vocals.









Waiting For The Big One (official video):
                                  
Falling In And Out Of Love (official video):

LOST GEM: MOVING PICTURES - Days Of Innocence (Released: 1981)

MOVING PICTURES was an Aussie band that released three album through the 80's. Their debut album was Days Of Innocence released on Epic and Wheatley Record and reaching AUS # 1 and USA # 101. Second single from this album was What About Me, a masterclass power ballad reaching AUS # 1 and USA # 29. The song was re-released in 1989 reaching USA # 46... High Quality AOR.







Sound bites:





What About Me (official video):

LOST GEM: MELIDIAN - Lost In The Wild (Released: 1989)

Lost In The Wild is the only album released on CBS by this New York band. This is a sensational album full of keys, perfect guitar melodies and amazing songwriting, maybe the weakest point are Chris Cade's vocals. He does an excellent work in the rocking tunes where his voice fits perfect but he suffers a little when songs are mellower even having to resort to falsetto. MELIDIAN was some kind of ICON meets PAUL SABU meets AUTOGRAPH. An excellent album that you should have in your collection.





Sound bites:






Ready To Rock (official video):

VON GROOVE - S/T (Released: 1992, Chrysalis)

Von Groove formed back in 1990 in Canada. Their first album was released by Chrysalis Records in 92' produced by Richie Zito and with musical guests including Tommy Funderburk and Deen Castronovo between others. The band have another seven albums but none of them as good as their debut. This is a must have for lovers of  Warrant, Tyketto, Damn Yankees and late 80's Bon Jovi.










Sounds:










Once Is Not Enough (official video):

THE ANSWER - Revival (Release: Oct 3, 2011)

 

Here we go with the third effort by this Irish guys. With no doubt THE ANSWER is one of the best Rock bands of the last decade. Their music is straight pure Hard Rock with raw sound and some reminiscent of LED ZEPPELIN.
This album, Revival, is a masterpiece and for the first time in a long long time i must say that i love all the tracks in this cd. Cormac Neeson raspy voice is at its best with his old school way of singing, Paul Mahon riffs and solos are brutal while the rythm section with James Heatley on drums and Michael Waters on bass do and excellent work too, specially Heatley playing like an animal, more exactly like Animal the puppet, you remember? this crazy guy in love with drumming... Heatley is some kind of this, a fantastic and energetic drummer.
The album opens with Waste Your Tears, starting with some slide guitar that suddenly explode into electric with a heavy riff and some Zeppelinesque taste that leads into a great a catchy chorus... a brilliant start to this album with an epic in-crescendo ending full of backing vocals.
Use Me is an straight and fast cut with some AC/DC flavor and powerfull chorus backed by intense guitars... turn the volume into 10 and let this track blow you head. Trouble starts with some Southern guitar and harmonic that will remind you of COVERDALE/PAGE album leading to a more melodic bridge that once again turns into a powerfull chorus while Nowhere Freewhere is a more "poppy" cut feat. Lynne Jackaman from SAINT JUDE but sadly i must say that though she comes from a Blues-Rock band her way singing do not fit at all with THE ANSWER much rawer and oriented to Rock music. Tornado is the representation into music of what the title means, starting in a smooth way and turning into a "tornado" of Rock at the chorus. Vida (I Want You) is totally THE ANSWER while Caught On The Riverbed is a faster track built on funny drums and with expectacullar bridge that slows a bit at the chorus... another gem with a fantastic drums work. Destroy Me, once again, sounds a little of COVERDALE/PAGE and jumping we reach Can't Remember, Can't Forget, some kind of mid-tempo built on modern drums and with astonishing vocals. 
The rest of the album keeps the same rocking vibe with the exception of All Lights Down a more intimate cut but with strong chorus.


In summary, an awesome album of pure straight British Hard Rock. If you enjoy their previous albums you'll love this one.

Sound bites:







More info: http://www.theanswer.ie/home.html

Best Tracks (in order of preference):

Use Me
Waste Your Tears

Vida (I Want You)

Caught On The Riverbed

New Day Rising

This album is worth of 4.8 out of 5 ROCKS!!!

NEWS: New AEROSMITH album in March

Steven Tyler tells Rolling Stone... "Two months doing that and we’re almost there,"... "We’re gonna spend another month in L.A."...
Rolling Stone: "Is there a release date in mind?"
Steven Tyler: "March, hopefully."