The first three albums after the band’s name change: Earthshaker, Black Tiger. and Mean Streak were all classics and faithful to the band’s hard rockin’ sound. Now this is album number eight. They had a lot of success on the radio and MTV with a more commercial approach, using a lot of big hooks and the customary sing-a-long chorus on the two previous albums. Does this album stack up with the three classics? Yes, is the short answer, but in a more commercial way as they used a lot of outside writers. The big money production is there in full and this record sounds awesome. So, that’s a plus.
The opening title track is a typical Y&T rocker and sets things up nicely. LA Rocks is a bit of a throw away tune really, giving the record company what they want with a very radio-friendly tune. The band have always written great power ballads and Temptation is in that vein with a killer solo from Dave Meniketti, who actually didn’t have a hand in writing it. The Kid Goes Crazy is a Hot For Teacher rip-off complete with cheesy Roth style raps. I mean, it’s a great tune with a killer solo but not too original. Fight For Your Life has a simple riff and groove which carries the song through and the expected killer solo.
Side 2 kicks off with Armed And Dangerous and if that’s not a signature Y&T intro I don’t know what is, although I’m sure I’ve heard that hook and melody before. Rhythm Or Not follows and sounds huge with a big pounding beat and simple groove. Bodily Harm follows and it is the only song on the album with no members having a hand in writing it. The intro is killer, as is the whole song. It’s super commercial, it’s as catchy as a disease at a disease convention, and yup – favourite track. Eyes Of A Stranger has a huge sounding big riff intro and it’s power ballad number three with the emphasis on power, and boy do they know how to write a melody. The album closes out with the instrumental I’ll Cry For You, and it’s all about Dave and very reminiscent of Parisienne Walkways, which is an appropriate comparison as Gary Moore puts as much feeling into his playing as Dave does. So, it’s not as good as the first three but it’s close, and it’s very solid album.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
