CINDERELLA - review added 2nd November 2009
Live Album Review: Live At The Mohegan Sun (Live)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and split decision vocals
To this day I still can't work out if I like Cinderella. More to the point I can't decide if I like Tom
Keifer's singing. I say singing, but the man really does sound like he's gargling anvils. There's certainly a unique tone and great control there, but the overall sound quality is caught between characterful and terrible. He obviously has his fans, but then so do Coldplay and I still can't work that one out.
Live At The Mohegan Sun sees Tom joining the rest of the original Cinderella line-up of Eric Brittingham (bass), Jeff LaBar (guitar) and Fred Coury (drums). The album was recorded in Uncasville, Connecticut during the VH1 sponsored Rock Never Stops tour in 2005. Cinderella headlined the shows ahead of Ratt, Quiet Riot and Firehouse. Personally I'd have had Firehouse at the top of the bill but, hey, it takes all sorts.
Cinderella were formed in Philadelphia in 1983 by Keifer and Brittingham, and were apparently spotted by a young Jon Bon Jovi. Their debut album Night Songs was released in 1986 and has now sold in excess of 3 million units. Long Cold Winter, Heartbreak Station and Still Climbing followed over the next few years, with the latter out in 1994. Since then the band have disbanded and reunited numerous times, but have yet to release any new material.
The next best thing, therefore, is this live release. I love 'Nobody's Fool', and 'Gypsy Road' isn't too bad either, but apart from that there isn't a lot on Live At The Mohegan Sun that tickles my taste buds. The musicianship is tight and atmospheric, but ultimately it comes down to the strength of the songs and those vocals.
If you like Cinderella's back catalogue and can cope with Tom Keifer's throaty wailings, there's no reason why you shouldn't enjoy this. Personally, I find it as painful to listen to as fingernails down a blackboard.. I'll stick to the studio version of 'Nobody's Fool' and draw the line there thanks.
Check out... 'Nobody's Fool'.
Track List:
01. Intro
02. Night Song
03. The Last Mile
04. Somebody Save Me
05. Heartbreak Station
06. Coming Home
07. Shelter Me
08. Nobody's Fool
09. Gipsy Road
10. Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)
11. Shake Me
12. Fallin' Apart At The Seams
13. Push Push
14. Still Climbing
Label: Frontiers Records
Artist's website(s): Cinderella
