This CD has been kicking around for awhile in my review queue and it's time to put pen to paper (or key to keyboard as it would be) and get my thoughts out on this before it falls between the cracks to be forgotten. And don't mistake this for the other
Gypsy Rose band that had an album out in the early 90s. This is a different outfit altogether so don't get too excited, OK?
Gypsy Rose is a Swedish outfit that wishes they were German. Their music is ripped right out of the books already well established by the Scorpions,
Fair Warning and Bonfire. Not much original is put forth, they move through the motions without much pizazz or interesting tidbits going for them. The guitars are noteworthy as having that full throttle, attitude a'la George Lynch's rhythm riffs from early Dokken.
But where's the hooks? Where are the killer melodies? Sadly absent from this disc. I kept waiting for something to click, just anything, but it rarely happens. This is a real shame, because these guys have been together on and off since 1981 and this is their grand debut album. Twenty four years and this is the best you can do?
Overall this is a mediocre album that delivers some decent tuneage that just shadows the bands they are attempting to emulate. Hakan Gustafsson's raspy Klaus Miene-ish voice doesn't seem to gel very well with the music especially when he sounds whiny (
"Moonlight") and just allows the album to slip and fall even flatter. A little more grit in the instrumental caboose might have assisted in giving the disc a better lease at extended life.
There are a few songs that keep "
Gypsy Rose" from heading straight to the trash bin.
"Queen of the Night" is one of those. It has a "Crazy World" (Scorpions) vibe, back when they were at the top of their pop-ish peak. It was a Dogface demo that never got beyond that stage, so perhaps that is why it stands out among the rest. A couple of guilty pleasure pieces like this keep this debut from sinking to oblivion and allows it to remain at a firm average. That and the guitars, which also boost the appeal.
Maybe next time around they can pull a few original or at least, interesting ideas out of the musical hat, but for the self titled, I would say give it a pass. Unless you already have every Scorpions, Bonfire, and
Fair Warning disc available, steer clear. Better music is out there...waiting.
Written by
Alanna Monday, January 23, 2006
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