Rock Central: Reviews

Danger Danger is back! After a grungy - yet not all too bad - departure from their classy commercial sound, Danger Danger have steered back into a more melodic direction. Granted, their third album Dawn had its great moments, but it did not satisfy those of us craving a few more hooks and layered choruses. In this, their fourth album (and second with vocalist Paul Laine), Danger Danger mix the pop feel of earlier releases with the modern vibe they slipped into for Dawn.

The songs are all fantastic - there's something for everyone, new and old fans alike. Four of these songs (tracks 1, 2, 7 & 8) are re-recorded versions of tracks from the band's never released Cockroach album, a gem that needs to see the light of day, but probably never will. Although these are not my favorite four tracks off Cockroach, they are still damn catchy.

First off is Still Kickin ' which once and for all declares that the band is back to their kind of rock. A menacing riff and a big chorus get the album to a crisp start.

Sick Little Twisted Mind brings out the boys' ability to get naughty with their trademark raunchiness and double entendre lyrics.

The band brings the pace down a little for Captain Bring Me Down, a song which blends a soothing acoustic guitar and keys sound with sensible lyrics. One true gem of a slow song, if you ask me!

After such a thought-provoking song, we're off again to Danger Danger 's favorite topic: sex. Goin' All The Way and The Girl Ain't Built To Sleep Alone are both great rockers that could have easily fit on Screw It! or the band's debut.

Goin' Goin' Goneis perhaps the weakest song of the bunch and only because I have heard Cockroach so many items, I can no longer be objective. This song fits (former vocalist) Ted Poley's voice more than Laine's. Also, the guitar sound has been stripped back, causing the song to sound a bit duller and fuzzy than the Cockroach version.

However, Afraid Of Love is the exact opposite. Laine's voice couldn't be more perfectly suited for this song if he had written it himself! It's a beautiful ballad about letting go and following one's heart.

For a moment I freaked out as the first seconds of Heartbreak Suicide blazed through my speakers! I thought they were playing Turn It On , from Danger Danger 's debut album. Yet, this soon changed, giving way to a cool, modern-tinged rocker with sleazy lyrics á la Naughty, Naughty .

Rounding off the album is an awesome song that has got to have the funniest Danger Danger lyrics ever (and I thought they could never beat Slipped Her The Big One!). I Don't Need You has to be the best break-up song ever. I couldn't stop myself from laughing over these lyrics. These guys sure know how to have fun.

All in all, Four The Hard Way turns out to be a surprising and welcome return to Danger Danger 's melodic side - without compromising maturity and the band's evolution. A sure hit with fans and an attractive sound for the uninitiated.

----Released in 1997 by MTM Records | Tracklist: Still Kickin', Sick Little Twisted Mind, Jaded, Captain Bring Me Down, Goin' All The Way, The Girl Ain't Built To Sleep Alone, Goin' Goin' Gone, Afraid Of Love, Heartbreak Suicide, I Don't Need You

It is not too often that a new AOR band sounds this original, let alone this solid and good. Even more surprising is the fact that these guys have been together since the mid 80's and were never able to release this music. Having been together for so long, the band's tight sound is understandable. This also explains the band's similarity to early (rawer) Bon Jovi . However, Patrick Klein is a more versatile vocalist than Jon Bon Jovi is. In fact, Stone Soup sounds a lot like Bon Jovi fronted by Richie Sambora. Still, the comparison is not as well-fitting as it may sound. Stone Soup manages to show signs of uniqueness and well-rounded musical influences. Along with their passion for good melodies and rock riffs, the band uses horn sections to add a certain spice of funkiness to their blend of Melodic Rock.

Fighting The Good Fight and The Ultimate Touch are splendid fast rockers sure to please fans of loud guitars and harmony-laden choruses. Can't $ell Me Love is a bit slower but still as danceable as the first two.

The album's only ballad, Not a Day Goes By, has more of an AOR feel to it. It steers more in the direction of bands like Foreigner and a heavier Chicago. This is probably because of the blues-based melody lines, which makes a beautiful, keyboard-driven song.

For Promises, the band speed the tempo again, but still sound more AOR-ish than the first couple songs. This doesn't last too long, since Run for Your Love goes backk to pop-metal ground. This song would have been huge if radio would only play it.

Youngblood combines both AOR and Hard Rock, although it sounds a bit wimpy - lacking the strength of previous songs. However, Right Before My Eyes is the band's triumphant second attempt to mix these two genres, turning out to be the best and most memorable song on the disc. For the last two songs, the band keeps this pace to amazing results. Few bands close an album as strongly as Stone Soup does.

Spooge is a well balanced mix of AOR and Hard Rock on the verge of pop-metal and if anything else, Stone Soup are truly universal, with a sound that can attract anyone who's ever been a fan of pop-oriented rock. A true gem that should be in your collection now!

----Released in 1996 by MTM Records | Tracklist: Fighting the Good Fight, The Ultimate Touch, Can't Sell Me Love, Not a Day Goes By, Promises, Run For Your Love, Youngblood, Right Before My Eyes, Hit Where It Hurts, Hard Fall

Tower City have managed to make traditional AOR sound more modern, approachable and more importantly, unique. It's a shame that this album was not released before - although the band had 3 major label offers back in the early 90's. Of course, as everyone knows, the musical climate was not in favor of melodic rock bands, and, well, A Little Bit of Fire wasn't released until MTM Music was born.

The band adapt the best of the classic sound of bands like Bon Jovi and Def Leppard, although as a whole they sound more similar to contemporaries Harem Scarem than any mainly 80's band. However, Tower City doesn't sound as predictable as most of the late 80's/early 90's bands did. A Little Bit of Fire comes out as stronger-than-average album, replete with talented musicianship, excellent production and quality songs.

Album opener Talking to Sarah is a great example of the kind of rock these boys put out. It's a heavily melodic, mid tempo rocker that should please all AOR fans. For the most part, the songs are all what we could call "radio-friendly" although we all know only rock stations would ever touch this kind of release. Another strong song, Surrender is more of a pop-rocker, less guitar oriented than Hard Rock fans might want. Still, to prove there's something in this band for everyone, Little Bit of Fire rocks away like nothing else. This is the album's best song, since it blends a pop sensibility seldom heard of with a sense of melody and force that is completely enviable.

The only thing I miss from this release is a good, well-rounded ballad. There are slower songs (like I'll Sleep Tonight), but no real ballads in sight. Let's hope they go there on their next releases.

In the end, Tower City 's debut album is more of a treat for pure AOR fans than for Hard Rockers. The album pretty much follows a poppier feel than most Hard Rock fans expect, yet, if exposed to this, I am confident pretty much *anyone* could fall in love with this band. The sound is all too original to deny them their position in the current AOR scene.

----Released in 1996 by MTM Music | Tracklist: Talking to Sarah, Little Bit of Fire, Ain't Nobody to Love, I'll Sleep Tonight, Moonlight, Surrender, Closer to the Heart, Stop Runnin,' When It All Falls Down, Something About You, Hooked on Hope, Down All Night

As many people have stated before, this is a love-it or hate-it album - no in betweens. I am one who loves it. This album has all the qualities of a great band: strong songs, tight musicianship and enough creativity to stand out of the rest. Tall Stories definitely had what it was needed. However, the timing wasn't right and they didn't go too far. Vocalist Steve Augeri is now the new vocalist of Journey

The style of this band combines the sound of Journey with Bon Jovi - sometimes being mellow, sometimes being rough and fun. Standouts are the rocking Chain of Love and Crawling Back along with the ballads Stay With Me and Restless One (which should have been nominated for best ballad of the century). But the best song on the album has to be Somewhere She Waits which is as purely Journey-esque as Journey themselves have ever been.

Although this is a strong album, there are still some low points and those come when the band simply sounds too common and ordinary. In songs like Sister of Mercy and Never Enough sound just like every other band of the time did. No surprises, no breaking of the mold, no risks taken.

This band is now in the midst of rediscovery - since Augeri joined Journey people have been looking for this CD to see what's in store for one of the most legendary AOR bands of all time. As a result of this, more people are voicing their discontent with this band. Certainly, this album is not for everyone. It will appeal to some and bore others. The best you could do is to find it inexpensively and judge for yourself.

----Released in 1991 by Epic Records | Tracklist: Wild on the Run, Chain of Love, Crawling Back, Sister of Mercy, Stay With Me, Somewhere She Waits, World Inside You, Restless One, Never Enough, Close Your Eyes

Many people do agree with me here, this one's a classic. The debut of this American rocker should grace every serious AOR fan's collection. From the opening lines of Anything At All , you know you're in for a treat. This album has "essential" written all over. Mission of Love rocks big time, but with a style that's less original than the opening track. Nobody Wins In This War is the first ballad of the album, and, oh boy, this is a real treat. This is one of the most perfect ballads ever. Great verses and overwhelming chorus!

Over the Water is a slow rocker that runs out of gas within the first minute. It never adds up to the quality of the album as a whole. Next up is Problem Child, an acoustic song that has hints of Extreme and Mr. Big.

Stranded In the Middle of Nowhere and Forever are two classic examples of melodic hard AOR if you ever saw too such great songs within one album. Too bad that they put Cowboy and the Ballerina in there. It's such a tired Desmond Child-cliché of a song. It's got an obligatory-sounding horn section that is just boring. The ballads Our Love Will Never Die and Mirror Mirror sum up the album and add to the quality of the release.

Aside from a couple lame tracks (Over The Water and Cowboy and the Ballerina ), this album is strong from start to finish. It leaves you wondering about the state of the music industry when music like this goes unnoticed. And it leaves you wanting so much more. Mitch did release a second album, but it was a mellowed down, Michael Bolton attempt (however, it is an excellent record, even if a lighter one).

----Released in 1992 by BMG Music | Tracklist: Anything at All, Mission of Love, Nobody Wins in this War, Over the Water, Problem Child, Stranded in the Middle of Nowhere, Music Box, Cowboy and the Ballerina, Our Love Will Never Die, Forever, Mirror, Mirror

Tyketto's debut is a true gem that suffered an extreme case of lack of promotion from DGC (What a surprise! DGC is also the label that SCREWED UP Nelson ) Despite one weak track ( Strip Me Down), this album is one of the most intrinsic to the genre.

The song Wings is the song that defines what Melodic Rock is, in my book. Other standouts include the anthemic Forever Young , the ballad Standing Alone (which has found its way on 3 out of the 4 Tyketto releases!) and the blues rocker Nothing But Love. The musicianship of these guys is incredible, Danny Vaughn standing out with his bluesy, strong as nails, voice. If you're a fan of Danny's voice, make sure you look around for other projects he's been involved in: Flesh & Blood and Waysted (their CD Save Your Prayers is another essential buy, if you can find it - it's rare as hell).

The band gets even stronger on their second album Strength in Numbers, going in a bluesier direction. Still, Don't Come Easy is still, in my opinion, the best of the two, since it's much more melodic and balanced.

----Released in 1991 by DGC | Tracklist: Forever Young, Wings, Burning Down Inside, Seasons, Standing Alone, Lay Your Body Down, Walk On Fire, Nothing But Love, Strip Me Down, Sail Away