Y&T - review added 11th May 2010
Album Review: Facemelter (2010)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and fire breathing dragons
It may not seem like it, but Californians Y&T are proper vintage rockers. They've been pumping out their own brand of hard & heavy rock since the mid 1970s. Bands like Metallica and Mötley Crüe used to open for them!
Originally called "Yesterday And Today", the band's early line-up of Dave Meniketti on lead guitar and vocals, Phil Kennemore on bass, Leonard Haze on drums, and Joey Alves on rhythm guitar has changed over the years, and this 12th album sees Dave and Phil now joined by John Nymann on guitar and Mike Vanderhule on the drums.
13 years after their last studio album, Facemelter is a fine continuation of the Y&T legacy. The sound is familiar; obviously tweaked from the band's heyday, but still obviously them. Dave Meniketti's vocals are a few percentage points rougher around the edges, but that roughness adds a good dose of character. There's still no mistaking him for anyone else.
To be honest that really is the story throughout. This is simply Y&T playing Y&T music in the Y&T style. It doesn't have any tracks as big as their past biggest, but there's plenty of material here that gets close. A lot of material we love from the past only sounds as good as it does through familiarity, so who knows? In a few years the songs on Facemelter may stand shoulder to shoulder with Y&T's finest work. There's little to criticize on the album. In fact the only moan is the amount of time it took to get into in the first place.
Best tracks? 'On With The Show' is great and is clearly built to get the crowds going on the live stage. 'How Long' is achingly catchy, if a bit of a plodder. The retro 'Shine On' has a superb chorus. In fact the whole of it is rather handy. 'Wild Child' is another retro charmer with an understated appeal. 'I'm Coming Home' is a pleasant upbeat rocker. 'If You Want Me' is a fine mature ballad with real appeal. 'Hot Shot' is pumping and firmly embedded in the style of Y&T of old. 'One Life' has its moments. Final track 'Losing My Mind' is a definite grower and finishes the album on a positive note.
Overall, we like Facemelter. It could have done with having a few tracks cropped - especially those in the second half - to make a shorter, more brimmed-with-brilliance release, but we'll let the guys off. It isn't by any means the finest work Y&T have ever put out, but it certainly isn't bad.
Check out... The first half.
Track List:
01. Prelude, On With The Show
02. On With The Show
03. How Long
04. Shine On
05. I Want Your Money
06. Wild Child
07. I'm Coming Home
08. If You Want Me
09. Hot Shot
10. Blind Patriot
11. Don t Bring Me Down
12. Gonna Go Blind
13. One Life
14. Losing My Mind
Label: Frontiers Records
Artist's website(s): Y&T / Meniketti , MySpace
