"IV" is a much anticipated comeback since Winger left us hungry with their best album "Pull" in 1993

Personally I hoped that "IV" would be "Pull version 2". However, after reflecting it's very natural that the band changed in 13 years.

So what is "IV"? First off there is no obvious hits in the vein of Madalaine, Seventeen, Miles Away and Headed For A Heartbreak. "IV" isn't a pure Hard Rock record alike "Pull" vein either.

"IV" is a record with Hard Rock elements ala "Pull" blended with a moody emotion, a squeeze of modern touch and some progressive rock elements. It's a complex album, which is varied but also not as accessible as other Winger albums.

The opening to the CD is alike "Pull" - "IV" opens acoustic and quickly switches to a tough groovy drive caused by Reb Beach's guitar playing.

Album highlight is On a Day Like Today, which spans a mere 6 minutes packed with emotion and superb song-writing. The track builds up for the catchy chorus and despite it being a long commercial track, it keeps building layers of emotion and therefore never gets boring.

Another highlight is the up-tempo Disappear. The track is your face rock and unfortunately Winger put on keys to soften it a bit. The album also ends on a high note with Can't take it Back.

Overall there are too many weak tracks. The chorus for Blue Suede Shoes is too wimpy, which also goes M16. The worst track is Generica, which lacks the melodic appeal and ends with a long boring fusion jam.

Reb Beach is a skilled guitarist. Beach's playing on the fast paced rocker Short Flight to Mexico is sublime. Kip Winger sounds pretty good - but in general the turn towards more progressive rock influences doesn't appeal to me.

"IV" is an okay comeback album. It lacks hit-singles and even more important it lacks standout tracks. Yet it's a diverse album and if you can get into the right mood there is plenty to find. Personally I found myself struggling to get through the whole album if I wasn't in the right mood to Winger's dark Hard Rock with a touch of progressive rock.

Approach this album with caution, but if you are into moody progressive rock there might be something for you. A minor disappointment compared to "Pull"

Written by Michael
Friday, November 3, 2006
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Ratings

Michael: 6/10

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Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Friday, November 3, 2006

View Profile Comments: 245 This disc is destined to be another highly underrated work by Winger. How it is going to fare in the long run is still left in the air but there are a few gems that will likely last the test of time. I'm completely in agreement on "On A Day Like Today", it is a gorgeous melancholy ballad that is done beautifully. My other favorite is "Four Leaf Clover". Reb Beach's guitar playing on there is like a flashback dejavu to his instrumental "Black Magic". The tonal quality is sublime and the chorus is cracking. Two really great songs... the rest of the album is hit or miss and very dark. I loved "Pull" so i like this one quite a bit too. Good review. Posted by Alanna (Staff) Friday, November 3, 2006

Comment by me, maybe ? (Anonymous) - Wednesday, November 15, 2006

No seriously, this album is a grower. Ok there is no rainbow in the rose, in the heart of the young, blind revolution mad or like a ritual megasong to find, but still it's one of the finest hard rocking albums of the last years.

Comment by spleen (Anonymous) - Tuesday, January 2, 2007

It's been a downhill slide which began with "Pull", even though "Pull" did have a number of melodic moments to hang on to. This CD, however, has one semi-good song and one decent song that probably more belongs on a Kip Winger solo album. I've always liked Winger beginning with the first album. I was immediately hooked by the melodic elements in Seventeen, for instance. The one semi-good song "Four Leaf Clover" is moving and melodic to a large degree and harks back to "In The Heart of the Young", but that's where the nostalgia ends for me. The other track, which I think would've easily made a good Kip Winger solo track, "On A Day Like Today" is melodic for what it is, but I don't think it's strong enough to fit on a Winger CD, and to me seems somewhat out of place on this one. It's a shame when a song like that happens to be one of the major highlights of a CD like this though. It's should've been one of the weakest. Anyway, I was holding out hope that the band would pull out another very listenable CD, but unfortunately it isn't so. I wish bands like Winger would quit trying to reach out to fans of the latest rock craze, because most of the time they don't do a good job immitating them. Anyway, I gave it a shot but unfortunately there's just not a whole lot to keep me coming back for more here. I'd give this CD about 1 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Comment by dantemetal (Anonymous) - Wednesday, July 25, 2007

6... obviously you guys live in in the past and sure when this marvelous album was released you save your prayers for to get stuff like seventeen or madeleine right? but ohhhh what you got is an amazing and mature work, the kinda work that just a few people knows how to enjoy and understand...

Comment by ThraX (Member) - Wednesday, July 25, 2007

View Profile Comments: 135 Ratings: 0 Your review is very good , however I give this album a 7.5 , It is not nearly as good as "PULL" , "PULL" was there best album by far , but this is a good album , just not a masterpiece! Posted by ThraX Wednesday, July 25, 2007