Friday, April 8, 2011

G IS FOR GREAT WHITE “BACK TO THE RHYTHM”



Great White are known primarily for their hit "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", a cover version of a song written by Ian Hunter, and sadly for being the headliner on the night of the Station nightclub fire which led to the tragic deaths of 100 people in Rhode Island. Over their more than twenty years of history, they have released 14 albums (not counting several live albums, tribute albums and compilations) of blues-based rock/metal and have maintained a loyal following of fans.


Although they were lumped into the 80's "hair band" genre, Great White's sound has more in common with icons from the decades before (the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Led Zeppelin) than that of their contemporaries. Great White singer Jack Russel's vocals are often also very similar to Robert Plant's distinctive voice. Most of the original lineup reunited last year and hit the studio for the first time in eight years. The guitar and vocal team of Jack Russell and Mark Kendall are stronger than ever on this explosive new CD, "Back To The Rhythm."

Russell described the comeback album saying "The record's really eclectic, as the last one was, but it kind of explores the whole realm of where Great White has been throughout its musical career. One song's almost a step back. I don't mean in like a negative way…just kind of a step back, kind of a look at where we came from. It's pretty cool. I'm kind of excited about it, so I think people will dig it. If you're a Great White fan then you'll love it."


"The new songs sound fresh to me, very Great White, but with an approach of what we sound like in a live performance situation," explains Michael Lardie. "Kendall and I are having fun channeling our Stones roots and playing off each other in the Richards/Woods tradition."

Drummer Audie Desbrow says "It will sound like Great White but a really great production. The songs are very eclectic. Some songs sound as if they were from the 1984 era of Great White... There are a couple of songs on the new record that are very vintage Great White. I don't think this could have been achieved if we hadn't split up for all this time."

I can't say it any better than the band. The album rocks in the style Great White fans will be accustomed to, and the production is solid, with well crafted songs. The US release is on Shrapnel Records and is available at (as if you don't know by now) www.nehrecords.com.

Here Goes My Head Again


How Far Is Heaven

3 comments:

  1. I cannot believe that fire was that long ago; such a tragedy. I enjoyed your review style. Good stuff. I tend to only buy one genre of music and I really like to just take a chance on something different. I may give this one a try.

    ReplyDelete
  2. >>...Great White singer Jack Russel's vocals are often also very similar to Robert Plant's distinctive voice.

    Oh, you mean like a female version of Janis Joplin?
    ;o)

    [Let's hope mine isn't the "best" comment you get today.]

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
  3. Doreen-thanks for stopping by.

    Stephen-maybe someday we'll get you to listen to something other than the Beach Boys....but you keep on living in your surfer world. Now, if you wouldn't mind passing my name and number on to a surfer girl....

    ReplyDelete

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