BRITTON - review added 23rd September 2009
Album Review: Rock Hard (1988- re-released 2009)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and bands that should have been bigger first time round
The Britton story began in 1985 when Michael Britton (who had previously played with a pre-Motley Crue Tommy Lee) and Jim McMellen formed a band together. drummer Gary Holland (ex-Great White) and bassist Greg Chaisson (later in Jake E Lee's Badlands) soon joined, as did keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Schunk.
After the initial recording of demos in 1987, Greg Chaisson left and was replaced by Skip Frank. With the line-up complete, Rock Hard was recorded and released in 1988 on TSR Records, a sub division of the CBS label. It did reasonably well at the time but, as you can tell from the fact they really aren't well known, it failed to set the world alight.
Moving onto the present day, the album has finally been released for the first time on CD. The sound is crisp and clear, certainly not to modern standards but good enough. The songs are hard rocking, well performed and catchy. Think along the lines of a lightly punk tinged Bon Jovi, a softened-version of Motley Crue, or any number of hair metal bands with the addition of a little class. Rock Hard sounds good alright. Michael Britton has a quality voice, but he doesn't steal the limelight. Britton are a well-balanced band showing fine writing and performing skills
The album doesn't contain any all-time-classic tracks but there's plenty to enjoy. 'Hold On' and 'Lee Ann' get close to brilliance, whilst 'Heart So Lonely', the politically correct 'Drinking And Driving', the dramatically ballad-like 'Over The Edge', 'It's Just A Game You Play' and 'Don't Wanna Be Your Fool' are only a few paces behind.
With a few less 'filler' tracks this could have been a storming album. Still, overall this is an excellent release and you really do have to wonder why these guys aren't better known.
Check out... 'Hold On' or 'Lee Ann'.
Track List:
1. Hold On
2. Heart So Lonely
3. Living On The Red Line
4. Drinking And Driving
5. Over The Edge
6. Mystery To Me
7. Name This Time
8. Demons In My Head
9. She's My Lady
10. She Lights The Fire
11. On Top And Ready
12. Rock Hard
13. It's Just A Game You Play
14. Lee Ann
15. Don't Wanna Be Your Fool
16. Time And Distance
17. Keeper Of The Flame
18. You're The One
19. Bring On The Body
20. Hold On
Label: Z Records
Artist's website(s): Britton , MySpace
