"Open Up" Issue 10 (music newsletter
der Beste Totmacher
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OPEN UP AND SAY...
Discussions About Music That Matters
Issue Ten: August 31, 1996
to subscribe or submit, send mail to: Todd Craven (tcr...@comp.uark.edu)
send poll/contest answers to: Wes Royer (wro...@osf1.gmu.edu)
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If you know a local band or are in one yourself, send me a tape,
and I'll include you in the "local talent" section. I'm always looking
for more good music. Next week the "local talent" section will return
with a review of Path of Allyson. I've had their tape for a few weeks,
but just haven't gotten around to a write-up yet.
This issue was produced by Todd Craven, Wes Royer, and Mike
Gorman. Thanks to all of the others who sent me bits of stuff.
If you'd like to send me anything to review, or just send me
something, mail to:
Open Up c/o
Todd Craven
3005 Dorothy Jeanne #6
Fayetteville, AR 72704
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ALBUM RELEASE DATES
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(Note: All release dates are US, are compiled through various sources,
and, therefore, can be completely wrong.:)
September 3
ELECTRIC HELLFIRE CLUB "Calling Dr. Luv"
VARIOUS "The Concert for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame"
(featuring Bob Dylan, Bruce Springstein, John Mellencamp, & more)
September 10
CATHERINE WHEEL "Like Cats and Dogs"
JOHN MELLENCAMP "Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky"
NEUROTIC OUTSIDERS
PIG "Sinsation"
RAGING SLAB "Sing Monkey Sing"
R.E.M. "New Adventures in Hi-Fi"
RUSH "Test for Echo"
SUZANNE VEGA "Nine Objects of Desire"
September 17
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY "Wiseblood"
DOGSTAR "Our Little Visionary"
STEVE VAI "Fire Garden"
September 24
ARCHERS OF LOAF "All the Nations Airports"
SHERYL CROW
MARTY FRIEDMAN "True Obsessions" (US release)
HELMET "Aftertaste"
24-7 SPYZ "Heavy Metal Soul by the Pound"
VARIOUS "The Goth Box" (Cleopatra, 4 cds)
WEEZER "Pinkerton"
October 1
COUNTING CROWS "Recovering the Satellites"
CRASH TEST DUMMIES "A Worm's Life"
LEMONHEADS "Car Button Cloth"
NIRVANA "From the Muddy Banks of Wish-Kah"
OFFSPRING
TOOL "Aenima"
VARIOUS "Covered in Black: A Tribute to AC/DC"
(featuring Sister Machine Gun, Electric Hellfire Club, & more)
WARRANT "Belly to Belly Vol. 1"
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OPEN UP AND VOTE...A CONTEST
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Please...send responses to this column to Wes Royer at
<wro...@osf1.gmu.edu> with the subject: VOTE
Remember: the more responses, the more points towards your prize.
-----------
This week's...trivia:
-What band did vocalist David Reece sing 1 album with before forming
1992's Bangalore Choir?...hint: the name of the 1989 album was "Eat The
Heat"
-Bonus #1: What 1990 "one hit wonder" band did bassist Ian Mayo &
drummer Jackie Ramos play in before joining Bangalore Choir?
-Bonus #2: Give me the name of that "one hit wonder" album.
Last week's trivia:
<-Give me (at least) 5 bands in which lead vocalist Jeff Scott Soto
has recorded songs/albums with.>
-Eyes, Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force, Alex Masi, Axel Rudi Pell,
Skrapp Mettle, Takara, Talisman, Panther, Kuni, Kryst The Conqueror,
Talisman, Bakteria, Gary Schutt, Human Clay, solo,...etc.
<-Bonus: What Jeff Scott Soto band & album features the song entitled
"Every Single Minute"?>
-Eyes "Eyes"
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NEWS
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- According to Addicted to Noise and an interview w/ Duff, Guns N' Roses
is back in the studio. The forthcoming album will have all "up-tempo rock
songs, no ballads" and will probably feature twelve songs. The album
release is planned for the spring with a summer tour to follow. Dizzy
Reed is back in the band (still making them a five piece), and Axl is
handling rhythm guitar. Sounds to be good. Hopefully, we'll get another
"Appetite for Destruction."
- The new U2 album is pushed back till 1997. They're not done with
it.
- I'm sure a lot of you have heard about Pat Boone's 'metal' album. Well,
it's not really going to be a metal album; instead it's big band versions
of metal songs. Some of the songs featured are 'Smoke on the Water,'
'Enter Sandman,' 'Panama,' and some Dio song, among others. Ritchie
Blackmore and Dweezil Zappa are reported to be on the album. No word on a
release date, but I doubt any of you will be rushing out to get it anyhow.
- The L.A. Guns will release their first album on CMC International on
October 29. "American Hardcore" will also be the first album without
vocalist Phil Lewis. I can't remember the new singer's name, but I hear
he's a screamer. I think this album will be far different than the
"Cocked and Loaded" glam we love, especially with that album title.
- Sponge and Stabbing Westward are going on a short tour together which
makes fora great double bill. Here's a tour itinerary. If all works out,
I'll be catching the Memphis show and will have a review.
wed, sep 18 ventura, ca ventura theatre
thu, sep 19 phoenix, az gibson's/electric ballroom
sat, sep 21 san antonio, tx white rabbit/sneakers
sun, sep 22 dallas, tx deep ellum live
mon, sep 23 austin, tx liberty lunch
wed, sep 25 atlanta, ga masquerade/roxy
thu, sep 26 memphis, tn tba
sat, sep 28 washington, dc 9:30 club
sun, sep 29 I have two different shows for this date. It's either
new york, ny webster hall or
philadelphia, pa trocadero
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ARTICLES
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MUSICALLY INCORRECT
by Mike Gorman (lover...@aol.com)
What's up folks!!! Back for the second column. As always, love/hate
mail, ideas, unsigned bands who wanna send me their tape, marriage
proposals go to lover...@aol.com.
Frankly people, the state of today's rock n roll sucks. I guess
my basic squabble is with the so-called "aor" radio. These are the
people who are supposed to be bringing us the freshest sounds, mixed with
the old standbys.
Well folks, as we all know, it ain't happening. Radio has no
cojones anymore. If MTV doesn't break your band, radio sure as hell
won't. At least, rock radio won't. Look at all the other formats. Dance
music is totally ignored by MTV unless a song gets into the top 5.
Radio breaks dance songs. Groups such as Real Mccoy, La Bouche, Corona,
and Culture Beat, they get ZERO airplay from Mtv. Yet all four acts have
had a good deal of success.
(Well, actually I've seen Real McCoy and La Bouche videos quite a
lot on MTV, at least as much as other dance videos (except 'Marcarena' and
that damn 'get on the train' song.') Both of those make me want to kill
myself, by the way. - tc)
Why can't this happen at rock radio? The last bands that I can
remember radio breaking are Mr. Big and Extreme, both due to acoustic
ballads. I live in Massachusetts, a few years ago we had a couple of
damn fine stations. WAAF who played hard rock and some alternative and
WBCN who played a mixture of rootsy rock and old rock. Now both stations
have gone alternative. WBCN I can hack; they play some good stuff and
basically I have some respect for the station. Not WAAF, the jocks
there are some of the biggest hypocrites I have ever heard. For those
who are familiar with the station, I'm not talking about people like
Rocco or Opie and Anthony who arrived at the station after hard rock
was long dead. I'm talking about clowns like Hill Man and the
program director/dj Jon Osterlund. Not long ago Hill Man was being
thanked by bands like Saigon Kick and Osterlund was raving about Faster
Pussycat. Now they crack jokes about that whole scene. PATHETIC. Is
there a station out there that has any balls? Christ, I would give my
left arm to have a station around here that has the guts to play the new
Warrant alongside the new Smashing Pumpkins. But it'll never happen
because jocks are to complacent. They don't care about the music; they
care about being cool. Donnie Vie sings about not being in with the "in
crowd." Well folks, he sums it up perfectly. Hard rock isn't part of
the in crowd anymore and may never be. And that's partially in fact to
the cowards at rock radio.
Enuff said about that, now on to an old review. Seeing I didn't
buy anything new this week, and seeing Pearl Jam comes out this week, I'm
in the mood to do a little Mother Love Bone review.
Mother Love Bone "s/t" Mercury, 1992
This Is Shangri-La/Stardog Champion/Holy Roller/Bone China/Come Bite the
Apple/Stargazer/Heartshine/Captain Hi-Top/Man of Golden Words/Capricorn
Sister/Gentle Groove/Mr. Danny Boy/Crown Of Thorns/Thru Fade
Away/Mindshaker Meltdown/Half Ass Monkey Boy/Chloe Dancer-Crown Of
Thorns/Capricorn Sister (Shine Version)/Lady Godiva Blues
Musicians: Andrew Wood (vocals, piano) Stone Gossard (guitars) Bruce
Fairweather (Guitars) Jeff Ament (Bass) Greg Gilmore (Drums)
I can't say enough about how awesome this band truly was. This
compilation is made up of an e/p called "Shine" and the only full length
album that they had called "Apple." Andrew Wood puts chills down my
spine with his lyrics and vocals. Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament have never
sounded happier or more refreshing. Bruce Fairweather provides searing
leads and Greg Gilmore just pounds the drums. Had it not been for the
untimely death of Andy Wood, these guys, not Pearl Jam, would be the band
of the 90's. From sensitive ballads ('Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns') to
grungey rockers ('Stardog Champion') to balls out rock ('Heartshine') and
funk ('Half Ass Monkey Boy'), this band could and did do it all. I would
give my left arm if it meant that Andy Wood would live again.
Unfortunately, we lost the great man on a cold day in March of 1990 to an
overdose of heroin. Andy Wood truly loved life, he didn't take the
coward's way out like Mr. Kurt Cobain. Andy didn't want to die; he had so
much spunk and life worth living. Unfortunately the needle was stronger
than his life force. He was my Lennon, my hero, and for someone to say
that Kurt Cobain is the spokesman of our generation.....it makes me want
to puke.
GRADE A+
(Seconded. Mother Love Band was a phenomenal band. If you
haven't checked them out, do so. They're the perfect mix of glam and
grunge, and Wood was an amazing frontman. It would be nice to see another
MLB release because they have at least twenty more unreleased songs. (For
MLB fans, check out the two disc bootleg set "Words and Music: Tribute to
Mother Love Bone." It has lots of demos, unreleased songs, some Temple of
the Dog demos, Andrew Wood solo stuff, and more.) Also check out
Malfunkshun, Andrew's pre-MLB band which featured his brother Kevin (now
in Devilshead) and drummer Regan Hagar (Satchel). - tc)
GENERAL THOUGHTS
Todd's right, the new Satchel is AWESOME. These guys write some
of the best songs since.....well Mother Love Bone.
October 1, Belly to Belly, I can't wait. I'm hearing DAMN good
things about the new Warrant album. Let's hope that SOMEONE at radio
gives it a chance.
Ya know, that No Doubt album? I dig it, don't know why, but I
just do.
Let's have a round of applause for the Goo Goo Dolls, a band that
worked their asses off for years with no success until "Name" was a
smash. I strongly suggest that anyone who has "A boy Named Goo" should
also check out the Goo's album before that one called "Superstar car
Wash" Good Stuff!!!
For once I'm excited about a Pearl Jam album. The first one was
great, the last two have been pretty much utter crap. I'm liking what I
hear of them.
Marilyn Manson gets my award as THE WORST rock band of all time.
I'd rather be locked in a closet and be forced to listen to "Shadow
Dancing" over and over again than listen to these freaks.
(Gonna have to disagree strongly here since Marilyn Manson is
probably my favorite band. (Or at least up there with Warrant, Afghan
Whigs, Satchel, and a multitude of others.) Though I love the image and
like what they have to say, behind it all is a very talented band who
write strong songs and have a unique sound. - tc)
Until next time people!!!!
mike
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REVIEWS
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INANE REVIEWS
from the editor
Pearl Jam "No Code" Epic/Sony
Sometimes/Hail Hail/Who You Are/In My Tree/Smile/Off He Goes/Habit/Red
Mosquito/Lukin/Present Tense/Mankind/I'm Open/Around the Bend
"No Code" kicks off with the laid back and relatively short
'Sometimes,' and this track sets the tone for the album to come. "No
Code" is far different than anything Pearl Jam has done before and is
probably their most mature album to date. All thirteen of the songs are
really good and feature some of Pearl Jam's strongest songwriting to date.
While I still probably rate this album below "Ten" (I just love the feel
of that album and will probably always prefer a full out rocking album
to a slower one), I'm very impressed with "No Code."
Don't expect "Ten 2," though. Really, only three of the songs
here are full out rockers. While Pearl Jam left the grunge rockers of
"Ten" behind long ago, all three of the "No Code" rockers could have fit
in with and been some of the best tracks on "Vitalogy." 'Hail Hail' is my
particular favorite of the three, but 'Habit' and the punk, one minute
'Lukin' are also quite good. (Incidentally, Pearl Jam played both of
these last two tracks quite a bit on their aborted "Vitalogy" tour.)
The other songs are all quite diverse. The first single 'Who You
Are' and 'In My Tree' both have a strong Eastern feel reminiscent of
Vedder's work w/ Nusrat al Fateh (sorry if the spelling's wrong) on the
"Dead Man Walking Soundtrack" or previous Pearl Jam songs like 'Aye
Davinita,' 'WMA,' or 'Tremor Christ.' While both tracks take some getting
used to (which makes 'Who You Are' an unusual choice for lead off single
except for the fact that this is Pearl Jam who tend to release unusual
singles), they're both very strong and quite good. Expect to hear more
songs like these in the future, since both were co-written by new drummer
Jack Irons.
A lot has been written about this album having a strong Neil Young
influence, and that's true to a point. Two tracks sound very much like
Neil Young: 'Smile' and 'Off He Goes.' I really don't like Neil Young
much at all; his voice really annoys me. But I've always thought Pearl
Jam doing Neil Young was good, so I wasn't too worried about the Neil
Young influence. And as I suspected, both of the Young-insprired tracks
are really good. 'Smile' is typical of Neil Young's slow, crunchy
rockers, while 'Off He Goes' is more similar to Young's acoustic "Harvest"
material. 'Off He Goes' is especially great and is the closest thing this
album has to a 'Daughter' or 'Black.'
The other songs vary from the 'Immortality'-like 'Present Tense'
to the carribean (kinda) influenced 'Around the Bend' to the Who-ish
'Mankind.' This latter track is probably my favorite on the whole album.
Featuring vocals by Stone Gossard, 'Mankind' has a very loose, punkish
feel to it and is the closest Pearl Jam has come to writing a Who song
(which is surprisingly considering how long they've been confirmed fans
of the group.) Another stand out on the album is 'I'm Open' which
features some very cool spoken word type vocals by Eddie and has a
mystical, eerie quality to it.
This is the first album with new drummer Jack Irons, and while
he's a good drummer, he's definitely no Dave Abbruzesse. Irons' style is
far looser and simpler. The group, as a whole, though really hasn't ever
sounded as good as they do on this album. They're very tight and just
have a great "band" sound. Brendan O'Brien and Pearl Jam's production is
exceptional. (Too bad O'Brien can't make Stone Temple Pilots sound this
good.)
A final thing to mention about "No Code" is the packaging. While
the book idea of "Vitalogy" was cool, it was too big to fit in cd stands,
as most people know. Neil Young's "Mirror Ball" like Pearl Jam's
"Merkinball" was just crap. (Cardboard, come on?!) "No Code" folds out
to give the illusion of a vinyl album (I hate vinyl, but nice packaging),
and the album features nine faux polaroids that features the lyrics on the
back. Unfortunately since you get nine cards and there are thirteen
songs, you're missing the lyrics to some songs. Since my friends all
bought copies of the album, I've seen most of the lyrics, but it still
would have been nice to get all thirteen cards. Other than this small
problem, though, the packaging is very cool.
Even if you were turned off by "Vitalogy," get "No Code." While
"Vitalogy" was hit and miss and even "Vs" had weak songs, "No Code" is
thirteen strong, diverse songs. If you've never liked Pearl Jam much,
this may be the album that impresses you. It's really great.
Rating: A
Highlights: 'I'm Open,' 'Off He Goes,' 'Mankind,' 'Hail Hail'
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WESSMAN'S REVIEWS...W.E.T.
Wes Royer <wro...@osf1.gmu.edu>
INDIE SCENE: (CDs available from Perris Records Distribution mail-order
http://www.perrisrecords.com)
THE BRASH "Brash Knuckles" 1994 Brash Prod. (39:37) A
(1) I Want The Good Life (2) Psycho Love Otic (3) Damn You Damn Me (4)
Time Warp (5) Woman (6) Good Thang (7) Let's Start Now (8) The Light (9)
Livin' For Today (10) Why
This is a fun album to listen to; infusing hard rock, punk
attitude, & a little alternative. Track 1 kicks things off with an
incredible rocker introducing you to Rodney Pino's high-pitched vocals.
"Psycho Love Otic" is a funny half-speaking/half-singing tune about that
psychotic girl all of us guys are tortured by some time in life. "Damn
You Damn Me" is another very catchy hard rocker which brings in keyboards
by Jim Dorsett. "Time Warp" brings in some funky psychedelic vocals with
crunchy guitar groove. "Woman" starts off with an almost blues solo then
becomes another ear-catching rocker. "Good Thang", "Let's Start Now", &
"Livin' For Today" also rock with Chris Kemphert mastering the guitar
like any flashy 80's guitarist would have. "Why" is an acoustic & live
song along the lines of a ballad. The highlight of this CD has to be
"The Light"; just can't get enough of this melody. Diverse, talented,
filled with fun melody, and good for listeners of hard rock, alternative,
& maybe even glam. Five times better than i was expecting!
EDWIN DARE "Can't Break Me" 1994 Marmaduke Rec. (41:15) A++
(1) Feel The Power (2) Don't Listen To Your Head (3) The Backburner (4)
Never Had Time (5) Lies (6) This Warrior (7) Gone & Run Away (8) End Of
The Story (9) Test Of Will (10) Can't Break Me
ALERT...I don't think you'll ever see a grade like that ever
again, because this CD is immense, incredible, addictive, amazing, etc.
Why didn't i get this album earlier & why hasn't everybody been screaming
about it? Heavy metal has been redefined. Take the crap away from Dream
Theater, add the aggression of Metallica, & you'll have Edwin Dare. This
is heavy, crunchy, intelligent but packed full of melody music. As
Perris Records says, "this is a musician's band." Bryce Barnes's vocals
are remarkable & dynamic, yet aggressive...a cross between Sebastian
Bach & James Labrie. Jeff Kollman is a god on guitar not because he can
shred to your heart's delight, but because he never bores the listener &
provides hunger satisfying riffs. And drummer Tom Kollman & bassist
Kevin Chown keep things in line perfectly yet interestingly. Tom Kollman
has Mike Portney's (Dream Theater) talent combined with Igor Cavalera's
(Sepultura) precise speed. "Feel The Power" just opens things with an
atomic bang. No song after that loses the listener...you'll be begging
for more! "Lies" & "This Warrior" are the highlights for me, but any
other listener could easily pick any other track. "Lies" could have come
right off a Shadow Gallery or Queensryche album. If you crave hard rock,
heavy metal, or progressive metal, this album is a must buy. It has a
progressive flare, but without the fluff & lengthy interludes, and with
easier to follow melody. Just trust me, and BUY IT! You can't break me
away from this CD!
JAMES YOUNG GROUP "Raised By Wolves" 1995 Whitehouse/Absolute Rec.
(43:29) A-
(1) Faith, Love, And Hope (2) Don't Get Mad (3) Into The Fire (4) Heart's
Not The Same (5) Amazing Grace (6) Love And Love Alone (7) Let's Dot It
Everywhere (8) Heaven In Your Heart (9) City Of Holy Faith
AOR with edge...that is how i'd describe this CD from Styx
lead-guitarist James Young. I have to admit that i'm not to familiar
with Styx's material, but i have a feeling these songs are similar but
with a Damn Yankees flare due to the shared vocals from all members of
the band. But it doesn't stop there. Track 1 could please Kings-X
fans. "Don't Get Mad" could please new-Motley Crue fans. "Into The
Fire" could please House Of Lords fans. Two prime examples of ballads
appear in the form of "Heart's Not The Same" & the incredible "Heaven In
Your Heart". Every other track is good with "Love (And Love Alone)"
being the highlight. Good for hard rock, AOR, and Styx fans.
QUICK PAWN SHOP REVIEWS:
BAD ENGLISH "Backlash" 1991 Epic/Sony (B+)
Not as respectable as the A-rated debut, but definitely a must
for all AOR fans. John Waite just has such a great voice for this
music. And Neal Schon just has this way of being impressive yet not
flashy. And don't forget Jonathan Cain's foundation & fundamental
keyboards. The first 3 tracks "So This Is Eden", "Straight To Your
Heart", & "Time Stood Still" are the best tracks.
BETTER THAN EZRA "Deluxe" 1995 Elektra/Oswell Rec. (B-)
Just like most alternative rock albums in recent years, the
singles "In The Blood", "Good", & "Rosealia" are the best tracks on this
CD. But still this is one of the few mainstream alternative albums i
enjoy because of some good vocal performances & talented guitar. Much
like Toad The Wet Sprocket but just not up to Toad's standards. Must for
alternative rockers & maybe worth the pawn shop price to hard rock fans.
DAVE UHRICH "Fret'No-Tized" 1994 Red Light Rec. (B)
Dave's 1992 self-titled album is one of my favorite guitar
instrumental CDs to hit my CD player, because it rocks with a melody not
found on most solo albums. While this album features the same great
band, same great guitar work, and even more diversity including a cover
of "Frankenstein", it doesn't touch the first CD.
FALLING JOYS "Wish List" 1990 Nettwerk Prod./Voltion Rec./IRS (B+)
Their more recent "Psychohum" album has a lot more sound filling
each song and catching the ear, but this more basic rock style CD passes
the test. Suzie Higgie has a pleasing voice. And guitarist Stuart
Robertson & bassist Pat Hayes keep things grooving and interesting.
Along the lines of Something Ironic, this is good for alternative,
contemporary, & hard rock listeners alike.
SEPULTURA "Beneath The Remains" 1989 Roadrunner/Roadracer/RC Rec. (B)
No death metal album will ever surpass Sepultura's "Arise" & no
Sepultura album will be closer to "Arise" than "Beneath The Remains".
Great CD, but is lacking the incredible production of "Arise". "Inner
Self" & "Mass Hypnosis" are the highlights of this demonic delight.
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ONE HIT WONDERS
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Rockhead "s/t" EMI/Capitol, 1992
Bed of Roses/Chelsea Rose/Heartland/Lovehunter/Death Do Us Part/Warchild/
Sleepwalk/Hell's Back Door/Hard Rain/Angelfire/Webhead/Baby Wild/House of
Cards
Rockhead is a virtually ignored band that featured producer Bob
Rock (hence the band name.) While Rockhead may be viewed as a one off
type group formed mainly to show off Rock's musical talents, it is a band
work and not just some quickly thrown together crap. The band sounds very
much like a band, the production is, of course, great, and the songs are
all very strong. Rock doesn't handle vocals but instead is the group's
guitarist. Vocals are handled by Steven Jack (who I've never heard of
except in connection w/ this group). Jack has a bit of a harsh voice,
very suitable for screaming, and he sounds most similar to original
Asphalt Ballet singer Gary Jefferies.
The group shows definite influence by the three bands Rock was
most known for at this time: Bon Jovi, The Cult, and Motley Crue. (He's
since become known for his work with Metallica, but there is none of their
influence in Rockhead.) In fact, Billy Duffy (Cult) and Richie and Jon
from Bon Jovi appear on the record and co-write some of the songs. On the
rockers ('Bed of Roses,' 'Sleepwalk'), the group most reminds me of
Corabi-era Crue. Rockhead also has a strong Mellencamp/Bon Jovi (that
American heartland rock sound) feel on some of the slower numbers.
The songs are all very strong and quite good. (Bob Rock writes
all of them with various others.) 'Hell's Back Door' is especially
catchy, features guitar by Billy Duffy, and reminds me a bit of some of
the material on Asphalt Ballet's first album. 'Warchild' is dedicated to
members of The Cult and has the big Cult rocker anthem feel on the chorus
mixed with acoustic verses. Rockhead drop the drums and concentrate on
acoustics on two numbers: 'Death Do Us Part' and 'Angelfire.' The former
is very simple and balladesque with nice harmonies and a background organ.
'Angelfire,' on the other hand, is more of a Southern rock, picking-type
song. The track 'Webhead' is actually just an organ intro into 'Baby
Wild' which is one of my favorite songs on here. 'Baby Wild' is a big
power ballad in the Bon Jovi 'I'll Be There for You' vein. Really great,
and Jack sounds terrific on it.
All of the songs are strong, and there's a lot of diversity, from
slow acoustic tunes to full out rockers to big power ballads. I highly
suggest checking this one out if you can find it.
Rating: A-
Highlights: 'Bed of Roses,' 'Baby Wild,' 'Chelsea Rose'
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