ALCATRAZZNo Parole From Rock N Roll

1. ISLAND IN THE SUN [3.54] The opening track is very commercial sounding with prominent keyboards and restrained playing from Malmsteen. In fact it wouldn't have sounded out of place on Rainbow's 'Down To Earth'. The feel is similar to that of Bon Jovi's 'Runaway' but the lyrics are slightly more up-beat. The solo is brief and fits the track well and overall a solid opener.
2. GENERAL HOSPITAL [4.50] A great rocker with a riff that is close to 'Queen In Love'. The lyrics centre around someone being sent to a psychiatric hospital, although the character feeling he is not mad and shouldn't be there. There are loads of great riffs and the band create a very dense sound. Bonnets vocals are excellent and he uses some double tracking to help layer his voice creating a big vocal sound. The solo is excellent and reminds me of Eddie Van Halen's off the 'Fair Warning' album with quite a bit of double handed tapping. The song still has a commercial edge to it which helps widen its appeal. One of the albums best tracks.
3. JET TO JET [4.26] Up tempo rocker which sees intense riffing from Yngwie. Jimmy Waldo's Hammond organ help build the intensity. Bonnet's voice is again great and the lyrics are quite bizarre - 'Dr Livingstone where are you when we need you the most'. The solo is classic Malmsteen opening with a motif similar to that in 'How Many Miles To Babylon' before going onto fast runs all with that great vibrato thrown in for good measure. The band then pound on the main riff before going into another verse and chorus. Very impressive.
4. HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR [4.00] One of the most popular Yngwie Alcatrazz tunes. The start has some very melodic and soulful playing from the Maestro. The main riff is simple but still heavy evoking the best of Randy Rhoads. The lyrics are about the first Nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima and tell of the destruction that resulted and how people now view it in disgust- 'Hiroshima Mon Amour, As we beg to be forgiven do you spit, In our face and curse us all'. The solo starts where the intro left off and even features a lick that would crop up in 'Black Star'. A song that gets you thinking about the worlds problems.
5. KREE NAKOORIE [6.09] Opening with a mock helicopter sound before going into a keyboard motif. Simple power chords from Yngwie back in up perfectly. The verse riff is slow and ominous with a similar feel to early Rising Force. Again Bonnet double's his vocals creating a big sound, the lyrics centre around the Kree Nakoorie who are an amazon tribe who are very tall, 8 or 9 feet according to legend, they disappear into the jungle when people try to photograph them, but people claim to have actually seen them. They are being threatened with extinction by modern development, again very bizarre. Overall this track is very strong with great musicianship all round and great playing from YJM.
6. INCUBUS [1.23] A short instrumental which has a vibe similar to that found on 'Brothers' off 'Seventh Sign'. Short and sweet.
7. TOO YOUNG TO DIE, TOO DRUNK TO LIVE [4.19] This track is again an up-tempo rocker with a riff that is doubled to great effect with the bass. The lyrics centre around the trappings of the Hollywood glamour lifestyle with great references to the pitfulls of drugs and alcohol 'Daddies princess fixes her hair, powders her nose from the inside. Smokes in the car, drinks her last beer, soon she'll be ready for one more day'. It also shows how people are really killing themselves when in a chemical rut but think they are really living. The solo is again 'Classic' Malmsteen and shows he's has his own style since his first releases. Great classical interludes and a great organ solo from Waldo. The last verse shows how people learn from there mistakes and look back and see how stupid they were. A very catchy song.
8. BIG FOOT [4.05] Starting with a very neo-classical riff that is of medium tempo, before slowing down for another monster groove. The lyrics are about the 'Big Foot' phenomenon and again are bizarre [where does Bonnet get some of these lyric ideas?]. The solo sees one of Yngwie's most famous interludes before going into another blistering solo. Bonnet's voice is this time triple tracked in harmony creating sounds that come at you from every angle. Jan Uvena drumming is also note-worthy, although not technically impressive, his use of cymbals is very interesting.
9. STARCARR LANE [3.52] Another commercial track which sees harmony guitar parts from YJM. The lyrics again centre around not being able to go back to innocent youth memories 'It's hard to come back again to see where we have been'. Bonnet is almost duelling with himself creating an interesting original sound, Malmsteen's solo fits perfectly. Although the track is fairly simple it does have an enduring quality.
10. SUFFER ME [4.17] The only ballad on the album, and very emotional it is. Bonnet's voice shines with great clarity and depth. The keyboards again are very prominent, and the track reminds me of some of Aerosmith late 70's/early 80's tracks like 'Mia' and 'Cry Me A River', that is until the solo which is VERY classical and absolutely beautiful, those who reckon Yngwie doesn't play with feel should listen to this track, absolutely amazing. He shows great taste and some of the runs are his best ever. A beautiful end to the album.