Spread Eagle´s self titled album is reissued contemporary with the bands reunion and recent US tour.
I was one of the unlucky who never got this gem originally and therefore this reissue is welcomed with open arms. Compared to
Spread Eagle's second album "Open to the Public" the first album has more swagger and snotty drive.
Hot Sex is the perfect example of the snotty drive and primitive sexual lyrics, which characterizes a youthful band playing kick ass party Hard Rock.
Both
Spread Eagle albums hold high standard but "
Spread Eagle" has some unique songs, which the band never managed to surpass on "Open to the public".
A handful of songs stand out because the melodies are so catchy, but yet
Spread Eagle has kept their rawness. At the time this album came out, the closest you could get to
Spread Eagle was
Skid Row and XYZ. The blow torching guitars was very alike XYZ, but somehow
Spread Eagle sounded a bit rawer and more unpretentious than
Skid Row.
Scratch like a Cat underlines that fact with Ray West´s raw vocals and screaming guitars from Paul DiBartolo.
The almost 6 minute long power ballad
Thru these eyes blows your head off, since it builds up for the powerful chorus. Ray West hits some really high notes. Both West and DiBartolo have their own original feel and trademark - the paring of West's raw vocals and DiBartolo's in-your-face guitars is certainly
Spread Eagle's trump card. Another 6 minute track
Dead of Winter is a fine example of the direction
Spread Eagle later took on "Open to the Public" with longer songs and more emotional songs.
Looking in the rearview mirror "
Spread Eagle" is a timeless album if you are into raw Hard rock. The album sounds great even 16 years after its release and album highlight
Switchblade Serenade is forever a Hard Rock classic with its immense drive and excellent melodic chorus.
This reissue is plain with no bonus tracks or new booklet. Unfortunately the guitarist Paul DiBartolo is not part of the reunited
Spread Eagle. However, so far the band has got
Chris Caffery as a competent touring replacement.
Written by
Michael Thursday, September 7, 2006
Show all reviews by MichaelRatingsMichael: 7.5/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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