Way out ahead of all the others is Brother Firetribe's 'Heart Full Of Fire'.
My God, these guys make it all seem so effortless. Track after track of memorably melodic AOR songs, with focused verses, highly anticipatory bridges and towering hooks.
At times it verges on Eurorock, but at its core, this album is a skilfully assembled celebration of the genre's glory years. Magnum, Foreigner, Blue Tears. It's all in there, and more.
Absolutely essential.
Lovex's second album 'Pretend Or Surrender' is a real grower. Initial impression is of a cold if precisely manufactured approximation of the edgy side of alternative pop. But in time it worms its way under your thickening skin.
Gothic flavoured contemporary poprock for the masses.
On reflection, H.E.A.T. aren't that far away from Bother Firetribe. Their debut album may lack the songwriting consistency and production nous of 'Heart Full Of Fire', but this band too have gone beyond parody and made the music all their own.
Harder and heavier too, more a galloping MHR beast than an AOR thoroughbred, but one just as much likely to cross the line ahead of its competitors.
Miss Crazy's second album, 'Miss Crazy II', is something of a revelation. The debut made everyone sit up and take notice. The follow up demands your further, undivided attention.
Anyone who thought sharply written, energetically performed glam rock and sleaze metal were dead and gone will obsess over this Lazarus like resurrection of the genre.
Y&T have just reissued their 'Musically Incorrect' and 'Endangered Species' as an eminently desirable two CD package titled 'Incorrect Species'.
The nice thing about this package is that it contains two very different animals.
The songs on 'Musically Incorrect' were clearly constructed from elongated jam sessions with the songs cut and tailored from riffs, guitar motifs and chord progressions. Y&T at their hottest and hardest.
On the other hand, with 'Endangered Species' it's plain that the team sat down and wrote a bunch of songs prior to entering the studio. The tracks have that compact, self contained feel.
Not that I'm complaining either way. On the contrary, there's a freedom and joy to 'MI' that illuminates one side of the band, whereas 'ES' sounds like seasoned rock musicians getting back down to serious business.
Review to follow soon.
Krystal Tears : new Brazilian hard melodic rock band. Good stuff.
George Lynch : Scorpion Tales : a selection of Scorpions' songs performed by George with a variety of vocalists - Kelly Hansen, Joe Leste, Paul Shortino, Kevin Dubrow and others.
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