A true super band!
Saints of the Underground consists of Robbie Crane (Vince Neil, Ratt), drummer Bobby Blotzer (Ratt) plus Kerri Kelli who played with most 80s bands and currently plays in Alice Cooper. The lead vocals are handled by Jani Lane (Warrant) and this is a big welcome back to Lane, who apart from his solo album has been away from the spotlight for some time.
Of course I expected a crossover of Ratt and Warrant in true 80's metal style. Saints of the Underground is a mix of Jani Lane's solo record, which was done in collaboration with Kerry Kelli and Bobby Blotzer's Twenty 4 Seven project, which he did with John Corabi.
Saints of the Underground is Hard Rock with a modern twist. The first half of the record is the best part. Tomorrow Never Comes is all Jani Lane. Kerri Kelli pumps out a groovy riff, but Lane steals the show with his vocals and lyrics. Jani Lane has been missed!
All In How You Wear It has splendid lyrics and it is the most 80's like Rocker on the record. All In How You Wear It is driven by a swaggering beat with a melodic signature riff that glues the song.
"Love the sin, Hate the Sinner" is a modern Hard Rock album, which doesn't sound like Ratt or Warrant. However, the grungy Signs of Life could have been on Warrant's "Belly to Belly", but in general S.O.T.U sound original even though the worn out cover song American Girl drags down the overall impression. The cover version of Rolling Stones' Moonlight Mile isn't an obvious choice with since it's mellow with both acoustic guitar and piano in contrast to this being a very electric record. However, Saints of the Underground keep the Stones feel without being Jagger/Richards impersonators and S.O.T.U even add new elements, which makes Moonlight Mile sound like their own baby.
The album contains 10 tracks total - both Dead Mans Shoes and Good Times was released earlier on Blotzer's Twenty 4 Seven record. Of course the two songs are rearranged and sound different with Jani Lane's vocal chords. The album closer Jimmy is an unreleased Warrant song and falls a bit out of place. The cheerful up-beat is a blast from the past when Rock was about having fun.
Principally we only get 5 new original songs, so "Love the sin, Hate the Sinner" is categorized as an appetizer only. On one hand it's a bit weak with so few original songs, but on the other hand I am just relieved that the project sees and early release and becomes definitive instead of an Internet buzz. The record is sure worth buying.Written by
Michael Friday, May 9, 2008
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