WINGER - review added 30th September 2009
Album Review: Karma (2009)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and updating the sound whilst sticking to the roots
I like Winger. Their first 3 albums - the 1988 self-titled debut Winger, 1990's In The Heart Of The Young and 1993's Pull - are all excellent. Their 4th release from 2006, cleverly entitled IV, has so far eluded me. To all intents and purposes it's a corker too.
You only need to hear their Greatest Hits album to feel the quality of the band. With tracks compiled from their first 3 albums and associated recording sessions, there isn't a duffer amongst them. This is a band that oozes quality from every pore.
So, has that quality manifested itself on their 5th release, the deeply-titled Karma? Oh yes. In spades.
Kip Winger – bass and vocals, Reb Beach – guitars, John Roth – guitars, and Rod Morgenstein - drums have crafted a record which instantly grabs your attention with it's melodic powerhouse sound. Most records fall into one of two camps - they either take an age to get good, or they sound brilliant to start with but quickly fade. Karma pulls the proverbial rabbit from the hat by being instant and a grower all at once.
The sound is controlled but heavy - very heavy in places - and recalls the slightly darker, more moody sound from the Pull release. Kip's solo work rear's its melodious head on occasions, but the overwhelming atmosphere is forceful, tuneful and immensely characterful. The guitar work is fabulous, as is the rhythm section. Kip's voice is mostly as great as ever, although a touch peaky in places and different to his early days. I swear he's slowly merging style-wise with James Christian from House Of Lords, although that couldn't really be described as a bad thing.
Opening track 'Deal With The Devil' is a spunky fast number with shouted vocals and an urgent beat. It borders on the clichéd and obvious, but it's a touch too good for that to matter. 'Stone Cold Killer' keeps the same beat and velocity, but tones the levels down a few notches. It reminds me of 'Junkyard Dog' in a big way and is, although unoriginal, nearly as good.
'Big World Away' is a more measured track with a totally different. almost modern feel. Kip nearly raps his lyrics but, fortunately, keeps himself under control. 'Come A Little Closer' is a subtly groovy track that doesn't shout brilliant but draws you into its intricacies anyway. 'Pull Me Under' is a track with a dreamy aura and beautifully understated chorus. Best track of the album until...
'Supernova' isn't just good as far as Karma goes. It's brilliant full stop. The build-up through the verses is good, the bridge is better, the chorus is utterly mind blowing. It's halfway between a ballad and a soft rocker and is right up there in shivers-down-the-spine territory. 'Always Within Me' brings matters down to earth, but only slightly. It's a superbly composed, mature song that could again grace that Greatest Hits album with no argument.
'Feeding Frenzy' is a raucous track epitomising the silk and steel approach. Kip's dulcet tones overlay a crunching riff-fest that wouldn't sound out of place on a power metal track. 'After all This Time' then flips the record on its head with a soulful bluesy style that'll melt your heart and, quite possibly, blow your mind. It's so good it sounds like a cover. Band's don't make music this good nowadays do they? Final track 'Witness' should be a big comedown after that but it isn't. It's just as exquisite (possibly more so) and closes the album on an opium-high.
Overall, Karma is a brilliant album. At least 3 or 4 songs are stunning and none of the others are any less than excellent. The second half is noticeably better than the first but, as the 3 or 4 best songs reside there, it should be. Is this Winger's finest release? It's certainly jockeying for position near the top of the plinth. In 'Supernova', 'After All This Time' and 'Witness', it has tracks that may well take overall honours.
Check out... Hmmm, where to start... Pretty much all of it :)
Track List:
01. Deal With The Devil
02. Stone Cold Killer
03. Big World Away
04. Come A Little Closer
05. Pull Me Under
06. Supernova
07. Always Within Me
08. Feeding Frenzy
09. After all This Time
10. Witness
Label: Frontiers Records
Artist's website(s): Winger , MySpace
