A good time rock n’ roll band that has a seemingly revolving door of members coming and going. However, the brand and the style of music hasn’t changed much over the years apart from the complete left turn when Glenn Hughes fronted the band. Maybe this line up will last a little longer, even though the drummer Evan Frederickson was in for this recording only.
This is maybe the most cohesive bunch of songs The Dead Daisies have assembled so far as there is not much dead weight to be heard. Straight in with my favourite track, Light Em Up opens up the album with a big AC/DC style riff and groove that blows the cobwebs off immediately. Times Are Changing keeps that vibe going with an added flavour of the South. Killer hook and chorus too! I Wanna Be Your Bitch is a dirty grooving rock n’ roll ditty, a no frills and straight to the point groover. A single pounding bass introduces us to I’m Gonna Ride, another simple riff and groove hanging onto a very catchy hook and chorus. Back To Zero closes out Side 1 and we get some slide geetar at the intro with some added psych to that basic riff and roll formula.
A very familiar Zeppelin riff introduces the listener to Side 2 opener, Way Back Home. A bangin’ cover of The Angels’ (or is it Angel City?) Take A Long Line follows. Further proof that the bars and pubs of Australia were inspiration for this record. My Way And The Highway is a fun barroom blast of dirty sleazy rock n’ roll. Love That’ll Never Be is as close as these guys get to a ballad, with a shift of sound to the mid west laid back vibe. Album closer Take My Soul is a mid tempo chain gang blues groover, until we get the anticipated gear change into a Lynyrd Skynyrd style romp to the end.
After many plays I think it’s my favourite Dead Daisies album.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
