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RADIOACTIVE | Ceremony Of Innocence | (MTM Music, 2001)

The Story Of Love / Crimes Of Passion / On My Own / Grace / Waiting For A Miracle / LA Movies / Ceremony Of Innocence / Liquid / Haunt Me Tonight / A Case Of Right Or Wrong / Silent Cries / When You're In Love

The first thing that hit me when the CD arrived was the list on the backside with all famous musicians involved. Some of them are; Jeff, Steve and Mike Porcaro, David Paich, Bobby Kimball, Fergie Frederiksen, Jim Jidhed, Jason Scheff, David Hungate, David Foster, Fee Waybill, Michael Thompson, Randy Goodrum etc. etc. I almost forgot to mention that this project (10 years in the making!) belongs to Swedish guitarist Tommy Denander.
At times like these it's easy to be blinded and expect something out of this world on the circle shaped piece of plastic in the case. It is indeed important to stay cool and remember that it could be one of those albums where you were let down despite the people involved.
I gently removed the plastic wrap around the case, which also had a small "featuring." sticker on it - to no surprise. I had already pulled out the booklet before the CD started spinning.
"Story Of Love", with Geir Rönning on lead vocals, opens the album in a bluesy rock mood. It's followed by the Bobby Kimball sung, and co-written, "Crimes Of Passion". It follows in the same mould as the opener and the pair belongs to the dullest moments on the album together with the funky instrumental "Liquid".
Jason Scheff sings two Westcoast orientated numbers. While "Waiting For A Miracle" is on the heavier side "LA Movies" is a superb soft piece. "Haunt Me Tonight", by Marx/Gaitsch/Waybill, is another fine soft song. I think it was better when sung by Richard Marx (Geir Rönning sings on this version) on Bruce Gaitsch's "Lyre In A Windstorm" a few years back.
Former Alien singer Jim Jidhed does a welcomed comeback, he's been somewhat active here in Sweden, on one the album highlights in the up-tempo "Silent Cries".
The album, although good, is to me too less of a lot of things. I would have wanted some more mid-tempo paced numbers where Jeff Porcaro & co. would have been given more room to shine, instead there are too much traces of metal/ hard rock in Denander's writing and playing. A more polished production with only some of the rough edges left to spice it up wouldn't have hurt either.
Good and competent but nothing classic or out of the ordinary.

Review by: Stefan

RANSOM | Trouble In Paradise | (MTM Music, 1997)

Bring It On Home / Trouble In Paradise / Wounded By Love / Middle Of The Night / Good Lovin' Gone Bad / Was It Worth Goodbye / Can You Fall In Love Again / Can't Live Without Your Love / Long Hot Summer / Can You Take The Heartache / Let Tonight Be The Night We Remember / In Love Again

This should be a record all AOR-nutcases around the world will love. It's pure American radio friendly rock. If your diet used to be the kind of albums Beau Hill used to produce this one is definitely for you.
So I would say that it's too many clichés and that we've heard it all before. So what? But of course if a sound like that make you sick maybe this one isn't for you.
It's a strong record right through. All rather nice performed by Tommy Girvin (vocals & guitar), Don Cromvell (bass & keyboards) and Ron Wikso (drums). Even if Tommy's vocal performance certainly is okay I believe the album could have been lifted a bit higher with a even better vocalist.
Personal favourite is the mid-tempo rocking "Can You Fall In Love Again" with it's steady beat.
I'm an AOR-nutcase (so much that it scares me sometimes)!

Review by: Stefan

RATT | Collage | (DeRock Records, 1997)

Steel River / Dr. Rock / Diamond Time Again / Ratt Madness / Hold Tight / I Want It All / Mother Blues / Top Secret (Original Version) / Take It Anyway / Lovin' You. Fonic Mix LP Version!

One of yours truly's fave rave from the mid 80's is obviously trying to get it going again, starting off with an album with some new & unreleased material. Add to that different version of 3 songs from the "Detonator"-record.
And as Ratt has been a favourite band of mine I was really excited until I pressed "play".
Opener "Steel River, a new song, is a frustrated attempt in trying to create something new with the old Ratt sound in the bottom.
"Dr. Rock", "Ratt Madness" & "Take It Anyway" are the other new tracks, needless to say that they also fall very flat.
The only song worth a real mention is the, until now, unreleased "Hold Tight". It has the typical trademark of Ratt with Warren DeMartini's driven guitarplaying.
This is a definite case of Ratt sadness.

Review by: Stefan

RATT | Ratt | (Portrait Records / Sony Music, 1999)

Over The Edge / Live For Today / Gave Up Givin' Up / We Don't Belong / Breakout / Tug Of War / Dead Reckoning / Luv Sick / It Ain't Easy / All The Way / So Good, So Fine

Maybe they were ridiculous but after all these years I still have a sweet spot for this LA hard rock band with that ability for pop melodies. All they way from the bands first full length Beau Hill produced, and 3 million selling album, "Out Of The Cellar" (Atlantic Records, 1984) to the Desmond Child co-written record "Detonator" (Atlantic Records, 1990) I was a follower. With the best of "Ratt & Roll 81-91" Ratt left the scene right before the alternative wave washed the shores of the world. Who in the world could have ever thought Ratt would make a come back?
In 1997 they regrouped. Stephen Pearcy (vocals), Warren DeMartini (guitars), Bobby "Blotz" Blotzer (drums) and new bassist Robbie Crane (ex Vince Neil band) did put out "Collage". It was a collection of some new and unreleased material. Though it sucked one shouldn't pay to much attention to it, as it is more for the die hard Ratt fan. But who would have thought they'd be signed with a major label as Portrait Records/Sony Music?
Before hearing this new album I thought it could only get better than the "Collage" stuff. So after 10 months of writing and 3 and a half recording the result is here. And to my shocking surprise it's rather good.
Together with producer Richie Zito (Heart etc.) and songwriters like Taylor Rhodes, Marti Frederiksen (who co-wrote the beautiful song "Out Of Bounds" on the recently released CD from Amanda Marshall) & Jack Blades (Nightranger/Damn Yankees) they have created a record well worth checking out. The unmistakable voice of Pearcy leaves a trademark hard to forget, and it's still there. The overall Ratt sound is also intact, although it's a slightly rawer feel to it. If comparing with their older records "Out Of The Cellar" would be closest.
The riffs of opener "Over The Edge" immediately marks that. The song trembles but the chorus slam dunks. It's just there, Ratt's ability for those memorable refrains. Next up is "Live For Today" which showcases another great side of Ratt; the pop melodies. "We Don't Belong" and the superb "It Ain't Easy", which shows hit potential, are also cast in the same mould.
"Gave Up Givin' Up" is more in the vein of "Over The Edge". DeMartini's guitar playing in the frontrow. Yet again with a hooky chorus. The guitar driven rocker "Breakout" sounds like they used to in the beginning. Exciting, honest and melodic. "Dead Reckoning" with its heavy riffs sounds without a doubt more up to date. Though it isn't spectacular it works. "Luv Sick" is also one of those that is by no means spectacular, but it still has enough attitude so it works fine at the end.
"Tug Of War", "All The Way" and "So Good, So Fine" are the weakest moments on the disc. Nothing unremarkable at all.
In my opinion Ratt anno '99 is by far more vital than you would think. They are also in my opinion by far better than any Poison or Warrant crap… Check out soundbytes at: www.portraitrecords.com

Review by: Stefan

REINGOLD | IV | (MTM Music, 1999)

Universe part 1 / Glorified / Overloaded / Highroler / Eye For An Eye / No More I Love You / Killer On The Loose / Carolina / Northern Light / Sacrifice And Suffering / Can I Take You To Heaven / Universe part 2

Are you a fan of classic hard rock like Deep Purple and neo classic hard rock this might be right up your alley.
Personally I can't find the words to decribe my feelings for it. I can't - I won't!
One thing worth mentioning though is that Göran Edman (Madison/Malmsteen/Glory/Brazen Abbot/Street Talk) handles the lead vocals. Göran Edman is one of the finest vocalists from Sweden, no doubt about it, but not when it comes to hard rock. His voice just doesn't work on this kind of hard rock material. It'll be more interesting hearing him in Karma (also on MTM Music) and Street Talk.

Review by: Stefan

RESTLESS | Alone In The Dark | (MTM Music, 1998)

Guilty / Alone In The Dark / Don't Do It To Me / Lightnin' Strikes / In Your Eyes / Leavin' You / Keep The Fire Burning / Painted Lady / I Don't Wanna Want You / Body to Body / Feels Like Love / Willing

Here is an album, which has one of this years most superb cover artwork, but what does it really help when it's musically closer to a disaster than anything is? Not bloody anything!
This is melodic rock/AOR à la '88/'89 with not one ounce of originality.
It's like some part in every song, whether it's a bridge, verse or chorus, you think you've heard before. Many times before - and better!
This kind of crap doesn't really dignify a release on a label like this, or any other for that matter.

Review by: Stefan

RTZ - Return To Zero | Lost | (MTM Music, 1998)

When You Love Someone / Turn This Love Around / Someday / Violent Days / Change For Change / One In A Million / Given You Up For Dead / Donīt Wait / Talk To Me / Don't Lead Me On

The second effort from this outfit, featuring Boston vocalist Brad Delp and former Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau isn't that different from the first.
Without sounding too negative they are more or less presenting an album sounding exactly like one could have expected.
Some quite nice, if safe, radio rock/mid-tempo oriented material mixed with some rootsier stuff.
Favourites are opener "When You Love Someone", the ballad "Turn This Love Around" and "Violent Days"
If you want to know what you will get this is a pretty safe buy.

Review by: Stefan

RIVER BLUFF CLAN | Two Miles High | (Fat Chance Records, 1998)

Two Quarts Low / Goldmine / I Won't Breathe / She'd Rather Be / Down The Road / Outside Looking In / Bent Grass Auction / Walls Of Graceland / You Go Good With Anything / Honeysuckle And Kudzu / Everything Under The Sun / Opal's Prayer / Until I'm Gone

Remember Jimmy Davis? He released a great midwest/pop-album with his band Junction back in '87. He is now playing in a country-gone-pop combo called River Bluff Clan (who also features Junction guitarist Tommy Burroghs), and even if this CD isn't exactly the same as what he used to do, it contains some really nice songs. A prime example is the brilliant pop in "Goldmine" (which could have been on his "Kick The Wall" album, and the great FM-pop/rock"Outside Looking In" and "I Won't Breathe" are also worth mentioning. At times reminding me of another American country-gone-pop band, Restless Heart.
The rest of the CD contains of a bit too country-tinged material to really appeal to me, but I am sure the Americans love this!

Review by: Larry

CHRIS RODRIGUEZ | Beggar's Paradise | (Word Music, 1999)

The Arrival (Intro) / Earls of Black / Voodoo Nights / Night and Rain / The Masquerade Ball / Tear Down the Walls / The Line / Hot Wheels / The Temple of the Holy / July Morning

Meet Chris Rodriguez. Born in the Bronx New York and raised in Miami, Chris nowadays lives in Nashville. Whether you know it or not, you have probably already heard him. His voice has adorned hit records by some of the most successful artists of our time. For more than a decade he has been working in Nashville as a studio singer. Shania Twain, Kenny Loggins, Billy Joel, Michael Bolton and Michael McDonald, are some of the artists that have used Chris and his vocals for backup both in the studio as well as on the road. As if that wasn't enough, you might even have heard his voice in a jingle or two as he has sung in commercials for both McDonald s as well as for Burger King.

Beggar's Paradise is the recording debut as a solo artist from Chris Rodriguez and he has managed to record a very diverse record of 12 songs, each song with a nice little story to tell. Every song is almost like a chapter in a best seller, where each song has something to say. With Beggar's Paradise, Rodriguez has managed to mix a rare combination of fresh energy and seasoned insight. The songs sparkle with innovative ideas even if an apparent influence from a band like The Beatles can be traced. The music can be described as traditional AOR (i.e. Adult Oriented Rock) mixed with influences from the late 60s. The record offers consummate and vivid musicianship as Rodriguez, who himself is a seasoned studio musician and plays both guitar as well as handling all the vocals, has surrounded himself by some top session players like Larry Tagg, Chris McHugh, and Brent Bourgeois. The latter has also handled production, which is flawless and well produced together with Rodriguez himself.

Chris has written some very captivating lyrics on his record. It is not your typical "boy-meets-girl" material. On the other hand it is not deep and penetrating lyrics, which need to be further analysed either. The lyrics often deal with himself becoming a born-again Christian. Thankfully, he keeps it very personal and low-key and is not overdoing it so to speak, so his songs are suited to attract a secular audience, too. An example of a typical lyrical content is "I'm a soul lost and alone until you take this beggar as your own", culled from the title track which reflects some of his personal experiences.

 As already mentioned, the record offers a lot of diversity. It ranges from songs like the commercially accessible and radio-friendly "I'll Stay There", "Saved", and "This Time Around", to the more sixties-flavoured "Walk You To The Sun" and "The Valley Road". The latter sounds like a perfect amalgam between The Beatles and contemporary bands like Jellyfish and The Rembrandts. Another prime cut on the CD is the magnificent title track, which has an irresistible chorus. The songs are simple, catchy, and very effective in their attempt to grab your attention. Chris himself said in a press release that he wanted to write "three-minute guitar songs that got straight to the point, just like The Beatles did". After listening to his record I have to say he has managed quite well in his achievement. But fear not as it is not a case of plagiarism. On the contrary, the songs sound very fresh and innovative in their own right, it is more as if the songs are slightly Beatles-tinged.

As a conclusion I would have to say that this record should make Chris Rodriguez a household name as it is an immense and nonetheless essential release that everybody should own a copy of. At least if you enjoy this type of music, and it certainly leaves you begging (pun intended!) for a follow-up from Rodriguez. In all honesty I can hardly wait to hear his next album, but this will have to do for now. Heartily recommended!

Review by: Larry

RUDESS MORGENSTEIN PROJECT | Rudess Morgenstein Project | (Domo Records, Inc., 1997)

Don't Look Down / Sloth / Drop The Puck / Crossing Over / Never Again (for Nan) / Tailspin / Odd Man Out / Masada / Cartoon Parade / Over The Edge

Instrumental equilibrism with keyboards, drums and no vocals whatsoever.
Extremely well played, but as a lot of instrumental albums tends to be an excuse for the musicians to "show off" this will not be picked up by many.
Jordan Rudess has played with Jan Hammer, Dream Theater and Dixie Dreggs, Speedway Boulevard among others.
Rod Morgenstein is perhaps most known as the drummer of Dixie Dregs and Winger.
Playingwise this is beyond perfection, but listeningwise it tends to become a bit boring a couple of songs in.
An album for musicians.

Review by: Stefan