The Mob has just earned its place among the best Hard Rock records of 2005. Reb Beach (
Winger, Dokken,
Whitesnake) is the main man behind this super group, who committed a super album.
Reb Beach has recruited his band mate in
Whitesnake Timothy Drury on keyboards and
Kelly Keagy of
Night Ranger to bang the drums. The biggest surprise and definitely one of the album's aces is the choice of Doug Pinnick from King's X as vocalist. Doug's deep warm voice is in contrast to many Hard Rock singers, but it makes this record stand out.
The album is produced by Beach's former sidekick Kip
Winger, who also plays bass. With this line-up nothing can go wrong though
The Mob exceeds my expectations.
The Mob is based on the best ingredients from the 80's and the 90's with great vocals, tight harmonies, pompous production and great musicianship with Beach glowing on as guitarist
One Track Mind opens the album very strongly. Reb Beach's lead guitar burns through the well-crafted music. The guitar sound is perfect, since the rhythm guitar sounds crunchy and the lead burns through.
Wait is a true rocker wrapped up in a thick production.
Kelly Keagy sings lead vocals on
The Magic, which is a big American sounding ballad - memories of
Night Ranger's
Sister Christian comes to mind. The chorus is fantastic and cleverly changes key. Beach's acoustic guitar sounds grandiose and the harmonies are amazing since all musicians provide backing. The power ballad can be categorized very simple - the category is "HIT song"
I Will Follow is one the album's more anonymous tracks, but
The Mob's lowest common denominator is still high class.
Guitar Solo leads into the album's second part. After such a bombastic start it amazes me that the second half of the record actually is the best.
Never Get Enough is among album highlights. It has everything that
The Mob contributes to the Hard Rock world; a great vocal, harmonies, hooks and the solo from Beach is amazing.
Love Will Carry On has one of the best choruses and the paring of Doug Pinnick's voice and Reb Beach is amazing. Kip
Winger provides a solid foundation and the backing vocals are amazing with Keagy, Drury and the
Winger duo. Even though this record focuses on hooks and the music itself Beach certainly proves to be a guitar hero. He gets lots of freedom to unfold his talent on the six string.
After the verse to
Turn To Stone you tend to think that its yet another ballad. However, this is an amazing Hard Rock song, which builds up to the chorus (rarely heard better) and is Hard Rock in its finest present.
The album ends with 3 standard tracks.
No Reason Why is a groovy rocker with a chorus that doesn't match the other songs.
Spaghetti Western is instrumental and
I Want To Live Forever is a stripped back acoustic driven ballad.
Still this is a great record and Doug Pinnick, Kip
Winger, Reb Beach,
Kelly Keagy and Timothy Drury aka the
The Mob is the hook up of the year!
Written by
Michael Monday, December 5, 2005
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