Classic Rock Album of the Day- Silvertide- Show and Tell. (2004) *** 1/2
Tonight's installment has a definitely classic rock sound, but the calendar says otherwise. I'd like to share this gem that seems to ask the question, is this particular album the very last AOR album in rock history? This is now a hugely obscure band and album that fell off the map, not for the matter of talent, but they played stuff that was dated to the masses that had devolved into latter grunge, industrial, and Nuevo punk. If these guys would have been born 30-40 years earlier, and produced this stuff, they'd might charting with the likes of Aerosmith, Van Halen, Boston, et. al.
They've got a really edgy slightly bluezy that almost almost harkens to somewhat of an Aerosmith sound, but still uniquely different. And the album is surprisingly consistently good. The sound has that nostalgically relicly good feel that makes many of us sad that stuff like this is a thing of the past. Of course and in the course of that obscurity, no one knows or even has heard of anyone in this band, But there is a significant amount of competency on every instrument. And they capture what I feel is a real Humble Pie like instrumental like interplay that really rocks. The solos hit home, the bass lines fill the product with that wall of thunder that hit us like the 4 string behemoths in the '70's. Listening to this album is like a nostalgic trip, except these are people who were born in the mid 1980's I think many of you will be pleasantly surprised with today's addition.
Fun Fact: One studio album. Very sad, one and done, We used to see relic bands mimicking decades long gone by. (See the Stray Cats in the earl 1980's) The music industry has obviously lost any idea of that concept.
Track
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1. A'int Comin' Home- The hit, and deservedly so. This massively rocks, and is as good as anything we had in the 1970's . Has that massive Humble Pie feel, but honestly is as great as that band was, this is as good or better than anything they did. Perfect rock song, awesome chord progressions, blueszy voice, and excellent guitar solos. 1
2. Devil's Daughter- This one has more of a Honky Tonk Woman angle to it, It sounds nothing like the Stones, but does have that meter to it Good to medium on a song that is pretty damned consistent- 5
3. So F__king Crazy- Yeah, I know back in our era, the RIAA, and society in general wouldn't have allowed expletives like this, but for the matter of the song, this one more channels something like you would have heard more from Aerosmith back in the mid 1970's. I am not saying they are plagiarizing sounds, but part of the problem of making a great album in 2004, is that there is something and everything to draw from previously. Reznor kind of hit on the matter a decade earlier with "Copy of A", Excellent on its own merit IMO. 4
4. California Rain- Maybe the most unique to their own style. If I were to pick the most similar sound, I'd have to go with some late 1960's Blue Cheer. Again when you post date rock to 2004, it is almost impossible not to sound like someone. Fine song. 3
5. Blue Jeans- This one has more of a 1990's Alice in Chains or Blind Melon Sound- Decent, but not great 8
6. Mary Jayne- Chaotic massively Aerosmithic like. Very good solo work. Joe Perry would be proud. Sleeper status on my list on this one. 2
7. Heartstrong- Are you kidding? Even by 2004, you;d think bands would skip the balladry stuff, unless they are Heart or other bands who do them right- 11
8. To See Where I Hide- Another one that kind of harkens to an Aerosmith sound, with much less success. 7
9. You Want it All- Another ballad. No thanks. 10
10. Nothing Stays- Is it me, but do I hear some Skynyrd like sync patterned like phrasing and sound. Not exactly, and the sound of a band that I just can't put a finger on. 9
11. Foxhole J.C. - Innovative in that is mostly unique from the sounds of other tunes on the CD. The fluttering solos are a nice touch, and something I hadn't heard in decades. 6
Tonight's installment has a definitely classic rock sound, but the calendar says otherwise. I'd like to share this gem that seems to ask the question, is this particular album the very last AOR album in rock history? This is now a hugely obscure band and album that fell off the map, not for the matter of talent, but they played stuff that was dated to the masses that had devolved into latter grunge, industrial, and Nuevo punk. If these guys would have been born 30-40 years earlier, and produced this stuff, they'd might charting with the likes of Aerosmith, Van Halen, Boston, et. al.
They've got a really edgy slightly bluezy that almost almost harkens to somewhat of an Aerosmith sound, but still uniquely different. And the album is surprisingly consistently good. The sound has that nostalgically relicly good feel that makes many of us sad that stuff like this is a thing of the past. Of course and in the course of that obscurity, no one knows or even has heard of anyone in this band, But there is a significant amount of competency on every instrument. And they capture what I feel is a real Humble Pie like instrumental like interplay that really rocks. The solos hit home, the bass lines fill the product with that wall of thunder that hit us like the 4 string behemoths in the '70's. Listening to this album is like a nostalgic trip, except these are people who were born in the mid 1980's I think many of you will be pleasantly surprised with today's addition.
Fun Fact: One studio album. Very sad, one and done, We used to see relic bands mimicking decades long gone by. (See the Stray Cats in the earl 1980's) The music industry has obviously lost any idea of that concept.
Track
----------
1. A'int Comin' Home- The hit, and deservedly so. This massively rocks, and is as good as anything we had in the 1970's . Has that massive Humble Pie feel, but honestly is as great as that band was, this is as good or better than anything they did. Perfect rock song, awesome chord progressions, blueszy voice, and excellent guitar solos. 1
2. Devil's Daughter- This one has more of a Honky Tonk Woman angle to it, It sounds nothing like the Stones, but does have that meter to it Good to medium on a song that is pretty damned consistent- 5
3. So F__king Crazy- Yeah, I know back in our era, the RIAA, and society in general wouldn't have allowed expletives like this, but for the matter of the song, this one more channels something like you would have heard more from Aerosmith back in the mid 1970's. I am not saying they are plagiarizing sounds, but part of the problem of making a great album in 2004, is that there is something and everything to draw from previously. Reznor kind of hit on the matter a decade earlier with "Copy of A", Excellent on its own merit IMO. 4
4. California Rain- Maybe the most unique to their own style. If I were to pick the most similar sound, I'd have to go with some late 1960's Blue Cheer. Again when you post date rock to 2004, it is almost impossible not to sound like someone. Fine song. 3
5. Blue Jeans- This one has more of a 1990's Alice in Chains or Blind Melon Sound- Decent, but not great 8
6. Mary Jayne- Chaotic massively Aerosmithic like. Very good solo work. Joe Perry would be proud. Sleeper status on my list on this one. 2
7. Heartstrong- Are you kidding? Even by 2004, you;d think bands would skip the balladry stuff, unless they are Heart or other bands who do them right- 11
8. To See Where I Hide- Another one that kind of harkens to an Aerosmith sound, with much less success. 7
9. You Want it All- Another ballad. No thanks. 10
10. Nothing Stays- Is it me, but do I hear some Skynyrd like sync patterned like phrasing and sound. Not exactly, and the sound of a band that I just can't put a finger on. 9
11. Foxhole J.C. - Innovative in that is mostly unique from the sounds of other tunes on the CD. The fluttering solos are a nice touch, and something I hadn't heard in decades. 6
