BLACK 'N BLUE - review added 11th May 2011
Album Review: Hell Yeah! (2011)
For fans of: Sleazy Hard Rock
Black ‘N Blue were one of the early bands in what would lead into hair metal genre. Their self-titled debut (1984) through Geffen Records was followed by "Without Love" (1985), "Nasty Nasty" (1986), and "In Heat" (1987). With US sales alone in excess of a million units, there's no doubting the impact this band had.
The modern Black 'N Blue initially reunited in 2003, but went into hiatus a year later 2004 when lead singer Jaime St. James went off to join Warrant (who incidentally are also releasing an album this month on Frontiers Records, now with a different singer). Black 'N Blue got back to it in late 2008, and "Hell Yeah!" is the result.
The sound is punky hard rock with a loose sleazy sound. This is not your typical modern take on late 1980s glam rock. This is a band that sounds like modern technology and modern life has never happened. It's a weird album really. It's a contagious mix of catchy ideas married with an odd execution. Numerous listens down the line I still can't work out if I love or hate it. There's no doubting the infectious hooks they've impregnated the songs with, but there are a lot of dodgy/vaguely-crappy moments mixed in too, and the vocals are...er...an acquired taste. Don't even get me started on the hidden track!
The best moments are the Kiss-a-like 'Target', the rubbish brilliance of 'Hail Hail', the Alice Cooper-ish 'Fools Bleed', and the Boston-tainted 'Falling Down', but I dig the enthusiasm of plenty more of it too.
In Summation:
This is a big lively album, but I still can't work out if it's any good or not. If you like your music bombastic and simplistic, there should be something here to titillate.
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall (Not An Average Of The Above):
Track List:
01. Monkey
02. Target
03. Hail Hail
04. Fools Bleed
05. C'mon
06. Jaime's Got The Beer
07. Angry Drunk Son Of A Bitch
08. So Long
09. Trippin'
10. Falling Down
11. Candy
12. Hell Yeah!
13. World Goes Round
14. A Tribute To Hawking (Hidden Track)
Band/Performers:
Jaime St. James - vocals
Jef “Woop” Warner - guitar
Patrick Young - bass
Pete Holmes - drums
Shawn Sonnenschein - guitars
Other Info:
Produced by Jef “Woop” Warner
Label: Frontiers Records
Artist's website(s): MySpace
