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UNION | Union | (Mayhem Records Inc., 1998)

Old Man Wise / Around Again / Pain Behind Your Eyes / Love (I Don't Need It Anymore) / Heavy D / Let It Flow / Empty Soul / October Morning Wind / Get Off My Cloud / Tangerine / Roin's Song

The debut from Union, put together by Bruce Kulick (ex-Kiss guitarist) and John Corabi (ex-Mötley Crüe vocalist), surprised me by being better as I had expected the worst. On bass we find Jamie Hunting and drums are played by Brent Fitz.
Influences picked up from the "Seattle-scene" are obvious. Soundgarden comes to mind while playing this record.
I could probably have graded/liked this debut better, but Corabi's strained vocals get a bit annoying after a while.
Nevertheless glad to hear Bruce performing guitar playing again.

Review by: Stefan

UNRULY CHILD | Waiting For The Sun | (MTM Music, 1998)

Heart Run Free / Rise Up / Why Should I Care / Forever / Man Inside / Do You Ever Think Of Me / Still Belive / To The Cross / Fool Again / Live In The Night / Waiting For The Sun

I think many of you out there probably know the background of the rise and the fall of this band. They released a fantastic Beau Hill-produced record back in 1992 with super vocalist Mark Free. Then their label, Interscope Records, decided to drop all their melodic rock acts (like The Storm and Crown Of Thorns) due to the rising grunge trend. They changed their name to Twelve Pound Sledge and record some more hard edged stuff. They disbanded, but the material was later to be released on the record "Tormented" in 1995 by Marcie Free, Marks new identity.
Now they're back, but of course not with Mark/Marcie Free. This time around guitarist Bruce Gowdy has recruited the talents of former Hurricane-vocalist Kelly Hansen, who might not be a Mark Free but he is definitely a great vocalist.
The album has a been a bit negatively criticised because they have re-done "Forever" and "Still Believe" from the "Tormented"-record, "Rise Up" from Bobby Kimball's album "Rise Up" + the Bob Held/Al Greenwood written mid-tempo rocker "Do You Ever Think Of Me" (previously done by Message and on Stuart Smith's record, where actually Kelly Hansen sings it too...).
You CAN dismiss that they're doing cover versions, but you CAN'T dismiss the quality of the songs and the performances they deliver. "Forever" and "Rise Up" are still two brilliant AOR-songs and "Still Believe" is still a very beautiful ballad.
The new material holds lots of quality too. "Heart Run Free" is in the same AORish mood as "Who Cries Now" from the debut. "Why Should I Care", "Man Inside" and "Fool Again" has all kind of a moodier mood in the verses to then blossoms in quite addictive choruses. The title track closes the album in a beautiful way; the ballad like verses leads into a chorus made in AOR-heaven.
The production may not be as big and bold as Beau Hill's, but it is definitely good. It really brings out all instruments clearly, but most importantly it really allows Kelly Hansen voice to come out clear.
One of the best AOR/rock records this year, on my top 20 1998 most definitely.

Review by: Stefan