ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 23, 1989 By Steve Newton So Great White's last album was called Once Bitten, and its new one is ...Twice Shy. Is that any reason for the L.A. hard-rock band to slaughter Ian Hunter's 1975 classic "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"? The answer is an unequivocal no goddamn way! … Continue reading Album review: Great White, …Twice Shy (1989)
Category: Album Reviews
Various Artists: Roadhouse Soundtrack (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 9, 1989 By Steve Newton Hard-core Jeff Healey fans who've already worn out their copies of See the Light and can't wait for the guitar wizard's next LP may want to pick this record up, 'cause Healey goes hog wild on four tracks, including the Doors' "Roadhouse Blues" … Continue reading Various Artists: Roadhouse Soundtrack (1989)
Album review: Concrete Blonde, Free (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 9, 1989 By Steve Newton "God Is a Bullet" is one of the best singles of the year so far. A raging tirade against the mindless use and dire consequences of firearms, the tune just guns along, propelled by guitarist James Mankey's freewheeling harmonics and Johnette Napolitano's seething, … Continue reading Album review: Concrete Blonde, Free (1989)
Album review: Various Artists, Guitar Speak (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 9, 1998 By Steve Newton The lineup of incredible guitarists on this all-instrumental string-fest says it all: Alvin Lee, Randy California, Eric Johnson, Leslie West, Ronnie Montrose, Steve Howe, Paul Manzanera, Rick Derringer, Pete Haycock, Steve Hunter, Hank Marvin, and Robby Krieger. Each player does one song, and … Continue reading Album review: Various Artists, Guitar Speak (1988)
Album review: Johnny Winter, The Winter of ’88 (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 9, 1988 By Steve Newton A new album by albino blues-rocker Johnny Winter is always welcomed by fans of lightning-fast guitar and raunchy vocals, and his latest is no exception. For his first release on the Voyager label (after four on Alligator Records), Winter has stripped down his … Continue reading Album review: Johnny Winter, The Winter of ’88 (1988)
Album review: Cinderella, Long Cold Winter (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOVEMBER 18, 1988 By Steve Newton Cinderella kinda turned me off with their multi-platinum '86 debut album. I thought they were too much of an Aerosmith clone. It didn't seem to bother the multitudes of kids that scooped up the record, though. On their new album they sound a … Continue reading Album review: Cinderella, Long Cold Winter (1988)
Album review: Aerosmith, Permanent Vacation (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 18, 1987 By Steve Newton "If you grew up in the '70s you liked Aerosmith." That's what Peter Buck of R.E.M. wrote in the liner notes to his band's version of Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic," and Buck knows of which he speaks. With albums like Get Your … Continue reading Album review: Aerosmith, Permanent Vacation (1987)
Album review: The Royal Court of China, Geared & Primed (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 31, 1989 By Steve Newton You might expect--with an uppity-sounding name like the Royal Court of China--that these guys would be yet another panty-waisted synth duo creating namby-pamby dance sounds for high-fashion losers. Wrong-O! These guys come up with some of the best thrashing hard-rock these ears have … Continue reading Album review: The Royal Court of China, Geared & Primed (1989)
Album review: Rock City Angels, Young Man’s Blues (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 6, 1989 By Steve Newton Fans of Guns N' Roses should seriously consider checking out this double-disc debut because it sports the same brand of raggedy, Aerosmith/Dolls-influenced '70s rock that has made GN'R such a big deal these days. There's plenty of excellent boogie on the fast-paced tunes … Continue reading Album review: Rock City Angels, Young Man’s Blues (1988)
Album review: Ozzy Osbourne, No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
Trust good old Ozzy to take a two-fisted slug at Jimmy Swaggart's recent downfall on his new album's "Miracle Man".
Album review: Steve Earle, Copperhead Road (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 11, 1988 By Steve Newton Virginia-born and Texas-raised country rocker Steve Earle carries on the fine tradition established by his first few albums with Copperhead Road, the sort of record that can please both rock and country audiences. Earle's emphasis has shifted toward rock though, so there's definitely … Continue reading Album review: Steve Earle, Copperhead Road (1988)
Album review: Bon Jovi, New Jersey (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 21, 1988 By Steve Newton There are hundreds of hard rock bands out there that are just as good as Bon Jovi. Unfortunately for them, they don't have Bon Jovi's talent for coming up with tunes that are both radio-friendly and capable of hooking into the mass consciousness … Continue reading Album review: Bon Jovi, New Jersey (1988)
Album review: The Jeff Healey Band, See the Light (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 21, 1988 By Steve Newton Local blues-rock fans who've been thrilled by the wild guitar histrionics of Jeff Healey during his many Vancouver club dates are gonna love this album. It's chock full of the scorching, red-hot licks that the 22-year-old Torontonian is famous for, and his inspired playing is set … Continue reading Album review: The Jeff Healey Band, See the Light (1988)