WHEELS OF FIRE - review added 28th June 2010
Album Review: Hollywood Rocks (2010)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and flaming wheels
Wheels Of Fire is Stefano Zeni on guitars, Roberto Galli on bass, Andrea Zingrillo on drums, and founder member Davide “Dave Rox” Barbieri on vocals and keyboards. The band is also joined by Michele Luppi on background vocals and grand piano. Michele co-produced the album with Davide, and Roberto Priori completed the mix and mastering,
"Hollywood Rocks" started off as a Dave Rox solo album, but the powers that be decided it was good enough to warrant full release under the more agreeable and sellable moniker of a band. You can't blame them; the material here is really rather good. It's as cheesy as a cheese factory in the town of Cheddar, but it's a bloody enjoyable type cheese so it really doesn't matter.
The subject matter, as the title may suggest, is the 1980s rock capital Hollywood. The songs here are about the Whisky A Go-Go, partying, women, driving and generally enjoyable the hell out of life. It's a spunky upbeat summer-marinated album that's more friendly than big cuddly dog. Davide's voice occasionally suffers the hindrance of a strong accent, but it's not enough to spoil the experience. When he gets it right (which is most of the time) he has a fabulously young fresh sound with bags of character. It really is easy to imagine him mesmerising a crowd on Sunset Strip.
Best moments include the fun upbeat title track, the warm melodious 'What I Want', the speedy 'The Reason', the bubbly 'Relax', the appropriately rocking 'Rock The World', and the wonderful final track, the slow and sentimental 'Love Nest'.
This isn't an album chocked to the rafters with perfect songs, but some of them - especially 'What I Want' and 'Love Nest' - are exceptional. As an album to pump at full volume with the windows down whilst cruising along the coast, "Hollywood Rocks" is spot on.
Check out... 'What I Want' and 'Love Nest'
Track List:
01. Hollywood Rocks
2. You're So Cool
3. What I Want
4. I Can't Live Without You
5. Everywhere I Go
6. Live Again
7. The Reason
8. Little Prayer
9. Relax
10. Rock The World
11. Love Nest
Label: Avenue Of Allies
Artist's website(s): Wheels OF Fire | MySpace
