Another of the small number of bands who adorned the Olafssongs' label was B-Joe.
'Ready To Ride' was the band's second album, released in 1993.
The band name is something of a giveaway, as their music is clearly modelled on the early period, faux Western rock of New Jersey's finest.
Doesn't make them bad people of course. Let's be honest,
Jaded Heart have built a career on such ambition.
That said, there's an almost incestuous melodic rock feel to many of these tracks.
Like
'Rock'n'Roll Junkie' and the title track '
Ready To Ride', which alternately sound like
Fair Warning and
Bonfire aping JBJ. In fairness, the first goes a little further, recalling
Fair Warning's '
Rainmaker' album... an emphasis on acoustic guitar stylings, massed bgvs and the creation of big canvas soundscapes, as well as sharp hooks and punchy melodies.
'Dirty Street's prescient Countrified flavour could quite easily have provided the template for today's JBJ, and the Country rock continues with '
Don't Wanna Lose You' and
'Lies'. The first employing a gospel choir to boost the song's sentimental undertow, the second relying on a neat and simple hook.
'Brand New Start' melds
Fair Warning and The Eagles' in a radio friendly ballad. Cheesy, unoriginal and totally hypnotic.
The epic, widescreen
'Alright Now' ups the ante. Full blown, full blooded harmonies and a sturdy melody carry this track through familiar melodic rock terrain. You want to like it, but you know only too well that it's all been overdone before.
'
All The Nights' closes the album in style. When you hear it, you'll readily and eagerly forgive earlier indiscretions. It's a powerful and passionate track that will remind you of the
Scorpions when they were great. Yes, it's derivative, and yes the band remain chameleons, taking on the colours of their various rock'n'roll heroes. But when they do it this well, you have to give them credit.
Written by
Brian Wednesday, October 10, 2007
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