...after all it's KURT'S KRAP...

Let’s face it…the debut album from Jean’s Crown Of Thorns was a MONSTER of an album. Sadly, the follow-ups, though showing moments of brilliance, were lacking an overall feel of excellence. Glad to say that’s changed with this brilliant solo showing. With it’s organic feel, this acoustic-ish album contains many new songs as well as a few reworkings of JB’s better known solo tunes. But make no mistake…this is pure AOR, with the production bringing out the melodies to their fullest. Like I said it’s acoustic but not unplugged. It’s full band songs with acoustic guitars. If anything, it has a boy band feel, but I mean that in the best way (the production sparkles). From the psuedo-arena rock of “Lying To Myself”, “Same Old Song Plays On And On” and “Open Arms” to the slower balladry of “Monday” and “Anything At All”, this album feels special, something I haven’t said about a JB album in some time. I’m hooked and this is the first album I’ve heard in quite some time that is SO deserving of a hit or significant airplay.

Shit…pure and utter piece of shit. There’s just no sugar coating it. Other than a few standout moments, this is one of the sorriest excuses for a live album I can ever remember. Though I will give the band some points for the song selection, the performances and sound quality leave a bit to be desired. Though Canadian singer Gowan sounds OK, he is no replacement for Dennis De Young and his out of tune screaming on songs like “Rockin’ The Paradise” and “Come Sail Away” are just painful. Nice versions of the Damn Yankees’ “High Enough” as well as Glen Burtnick turning in decent renditions of “Love Is The Ritual” and “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough” are the standouts here. The rest? Just abysmal. Someone stick a fork in ‘em…they’re done.

Every so often you come across an album that completely takes you by surprise and works it’s way into your head, becoming an obsession in the process. I would have been the last person on earth to think that that album would have come from Sugar Ray. To say they have made one of the most instantly likeable albums I have ever heard is an understatement. And the fact that it got better with each listen made it all the more unbelievable, seemingly custom made for hitting the highway with the top down. Gone is the speedmetal and rap/rock wanna-be of their earlier efforts. This is a whole different animal, packed to the brim with melody and harmony. Granted, first single “When It’s Over” is an obvious stab at another hit single, as pleasant as it is. But it is far from representative of the rest of the album. From the crushing power pop of “Answer The Phone”, the jaw dropping “Waiting” and “Sorry Now” to the slower pace of “Under The Sun” and “Just A Little”, it’s obvious that this is a more mature band that is reflected in the lyrics and quality of performance. This band will go well beyond it’s “15 minutes of fame” and may become the first 90s band to have an actual career. Who would have thought but the one time one-hit-wonders have become one of the most dependable and solid rock bands around?

Twelve in studio acoustic performances taken from the popular NJ based hard rock radio show. With albums of this nature, it’s easiest to just go track by track.-

Joe Lynn Turner – Stone Cold – simply an incredible performance of the Rainbow classic with Joe sounding as in good voice as ever

-Bar 7 –Lady Bug – Tesla proved their worth to the musical world with their unplugged album. Now Jeff Keith’s new band does the same and turns in a passionate take of one of the many highlights from Bar 7’s album.

-Mike Tramp – Better Off – decent enough but I was never the biggest Tramp fan. He does sound pretty good but the accent just does me in

-Stryper – You Won’t Be Lonely – brilliant rendition of a great (and vastly underrated) AOR gem. Michael Sweet sounds AMAZING

-Vaughn – Soldiers & Sailors On Riverside – Another winner. One of the best songs from one of last year’s AOR highlights, Danny Vaughn has one of those voices to die for.

-Mikey Steel – So In Love With You – OK, I hated Steelheart so I wasn’t expecting much here. Nice surprise as Mikey keeps the voice in check and puts forth a pretty decent performance.

-Doro Pesch – Love Me In Black – OK, I was never the biggest Warlock fan either but this is also pretty good. Doro has a pretty voice when she’s not belting out the heavy stuff.

-Danger Danger – Naughty Naughty – Acoustic Paul Laine is almost too much for one person to handle. Though it’s not one of my fave D2 songs, it certainly is hard not to feel the party vibe as this is the one track on here that feels like they’re playing in your living room.

-Ted Poley – Missing You – I’m starting to think that acoustic is where Ted should be all the time. Out of the production of the studio and in the raw, Ted sounds phenomenal as this solo track proves.

-Ron Keel – Tears Of Fire – Ron Keel, who I always thought was not a good vocalist, actually proves me wrong here. This ol’ Keel classic sounds better than I would have thought unplugged.

-Westworld – Suicide – Ah…Tony Harnell and company. What could I possibly say here? Great.

-Zebra – As I Said Before – The most upbeat (almost rocking) track on offer, this early 80s classic sounds as good now as it did back then.And there you have it. A SOLID collection of some of the best hard rock artists of the last 20 years doing what they do best. This is easily recommended to any SFKer worth his melodic weight as these tracks have a very collectible feel to them.

John has matured from kick ass rocker into melodic crooner (with hints of the blues) on his last few efforts, and this one is no different. What is different though this time out is the songs seem to have more punch and come across more memorable as this figures to be his best work since his Bad English Days. The opening title track is a melodic romp that is not unlike his best work with Glen Burtnick. Other upbeat highlights include “Thinkin’ ‘Bout You”, “Special One” and “Godhead”. And of course, one of John’s strengths has been ballads and here you get the huge “Always Be Your Man” and the introspective “NYC Girl”. The lyrics are some of the best that John and company have laid down and really go far to separate this from much of the AOR also-rans. Much of them feel like stories rather than your standard verse-chorus-verse. Just listening to a song like “Touch” can bring tears to your eyes. Though maybe a little ballad heavy for some, the standouts push this disc way above average. Simply a great effort from one of the true legends of the genre.