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Apr 22

Music Review: Whitesnake CD

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Whitesnake “Good To Be Bad” (SPV): It’s only April, but Whitesnake has laid down the marker for the best hard rock record of the year; anyone wanting the crown will have to top this excellent effort, the band’s first new studio album in 11 years.

WhitesnakeThe masters of melodic metal, led by frontman David Coverdale, have brought back old-school power rock — heavy enough to satisfy the headbanger within, but catchy enough to embed the song in your brain.

The band’s ever-changing lineup now sports the twin guitar attack of Doug Aldrich (Dio) and Reb Beech (Alice Cooper, Dokken, Winger), and both play with speed, ferocity and melody. From the opening riffs of “Best Years” to the title track and the fast-paced rocker “Got What You Need,” the pair perfectly complement Coverdale’s wails.

The best track is “Lay Down Your Love,” the closest thing to a metal mash-up of Whitesnake classics “Slow And Easy” and “Still of The Night.” The latter track is particularly evident here, from the bump-and boogie riff that shimmies, then pauses for Coverdale’s vocals, to the subdued, mid-tonal middle.

Other appropriations include the ballad “All I Want, All I Need,” which evokes the power ballad “Is This Love?” Close your eyes, and you’ll soon imagine Tawny Kitean and her little white dress from the memorable 1987 video. And the catchy “All For Love” cops the main riff from the Kansas classic “Carry On Wayward Son.”

“‘Til The End Of Time” closes the album on a note reminiscent of mid-’70s acoustic Led Zeppelin, and even finishes with a “Kashmir” riff.

All in all, this is proof that even though long in the tooth, Whitesnake still has fangs.

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: Did you like Whitesnake’s biggest-ever hit, “Still Of the Night” in 1987? Well, you’ll love it here again in 2008 with “Lay Down Your Love.” VERY similar riff and vocal patterns tie these two tracks closely together. Hey, you go with what works …

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Apr 01

Fine album has slightly bitter taste

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‘Keep It Simple’ Van Morrison

One of pop music’s finest singers follows the advice of the title on this good, but not great, album.

Over the gentle guitars, organ, accordion, rhythm section and female backing vocalists, Morrison, 62, adds his ukulele, saxophone and, of course, that supple and soulful voice to 11 originals.

There are fun songs, such as That’s Entrainment and Don’t Go to Nightclubs Anymore (”Alcohol was too big a price / Listen I just said no dice”). There are a couple of beautiful ballads, such as Lover Come Back and End of the Land.

But perhaps the best song is Soul, with its affirmative message “Soul is not the color of your skin / Soul is the essence, essence from within.” Morrison’s voice on the track is subtle and smooth instead of strident and scorching.

Several of his lyrics, however, are laced with spite, which keeps the album from being one of his best. For example: “Tell me who’s gonna patronize me now” (School of Hard Knocks), “They mocked me when I was singing this song” (Keep It Simple), and “I’m getting too tired to start all over again” (No Thing).

Get Van Morrisons latest songs at iTunes

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