Jani Lane - vocals
Keri Kelli - guitars
Robbie Crane - bass
Bobby Blotzer - drums
TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) "Dead Man Shoes" – Basically what has taken me so long to write this review has been not only the fact we have restructured our employees (polite word for fire) but I could not figure out who Jani sounded like on the opening vocal lyric. It actually did not hit me until I started to type it. The first and fourth lyric lines of the opening pre-verse Jani’s vocals sound very much like Jeff Pilson’s solo work. He sounded so much like Pilson that if it was not for the fact I personally know Jeff I would have argued it was him doing them. So if you have not figured it out yet, this track opens with a vocal line and pre-verse, there is no musical intro section. Jani overdubbed his vocal lines of the pre-verse them a real nice effect. The musical arrangement under the pre-verse was kept very simple in fact if I had been just someone listening to this release for enjoyment purposes I probably would not have noticed it. There is a small lyric line connecting the pre-verse to the verse. This is a writing style that Jani made famous in the late eighties. It also gives the listener a good chance to hear how good of a bassist Robbie is. Laced throughout all the lyric lines are heavy backing harmony sections. After the second chorus there is a small rhythm change that leads into the lead guitar solo section. There were notes of the solo that sounded like they were overdubbed to give a twin lead guitar sound. There is a very small yet cool Blotz’s drum fill connecting the lead guitar solo with the third and outro chorus.
2.) "Tomorrow Never Comes" –There is a lead solo/rhythm guitar riff over the top of the intro that opens this track. A drum fill connects the musical intro with the first verse. Keri kept the rhythm guitar arrangement of the musical verse fairly basic. As the verse progresses it kind of builds as the hook of the up and coming chorus gets bigger. Keri changed the rhythm guitar riff connecting the verse and the chorus just a little to give the chorus a different sound. There is a small musical bridge connecting the second and third chorus. This bridge leads into the lead guitar solo. The last few notes of the solo run underneath the first few lyric not1es of the third chorus.
3.) "All In How You Wear It" – The pre-intro to this track consisted of two different rhythm guitar riffs playing off of each other. The main into sections consisted of not only a minor lead guitar solo but also two short vocal lines. There is a small rhythm guitar change for the musical pre-verse. Lyrically this is classic Jani!!! Keri changes the rhythm guitar riff again for the musical verse. The guys not only change the rhythm structure of the musical chorus but Jani re-structured the lyric arrangement to an even more hook. This just show how long he has been writing lyrics. After the second chorus there is a bridge. The bridge was slowed down just a little to give the song a different feel. However for the solo they pick the speed of the song back up.
4.) "Good Times" –This track opens with a simple rhythm guitar riff coming out of just the left speaker. After a couple of notes a second rhythm guitar kicks in. This one comes out of just the right speaker. These two rhythm riffs are completely different the one out of the left speaker is a simple metal riff were the one coming out of the right has a seventies funk feel to it. Over the top of this Keri overdubbed a very simple minor lead guitar effect. For the musical pre-verse Keri swapped out one of the electric guitars for an acoustic. The first lyric line of the first verse was overdubbed with a backing harmony. There are a couple lead guitar licks underneath the vocal lines of the chorus. There is a quarter-note rest connecting the first chorus with the second verse. Musically and lyrically this song is very simply arranged. In the way the band set the lead guitar solo up lets the acoustic guitar rhythm bleed through.
5.) "Exit" –This track opens with no intro section. Instead it opens with a couple of lyric lines underneath a very simple arrangement. For the musical verse Keri swapped out the electric guitar for an acoustic. The musical and lyrical pre-verse has a very early Warrant feel. Underneath the vocal lines of the verse there is a small backing vocal overdub that was done with a very heavy re-verbbed effect. Keri added a small electric rhythm over top of the electric of the musical chorus. There is a small lead guitar effect connecting the first chorus with the second verse. In the way the band arranged the song gives it a Tom Petty feel. Which makes for a good opening for track six being since it is a Tom Petty cover.
6.) "American Girl" – This Tom Petty cover was the second single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' self-titled debut album. The single did not chart in the U.S., but in the UK it peaked at #40 the week ending August 27, 1977.
7.) "Signs Of Life" –The intro to this track has a very heavy sound to it. One of the reasons for this is not only because of Keri’s rhythm guitar riffs however; Robbie also turned his bass up for this one. There is a rhythm guitar change for the verse. In the way Keri wrote the rhythm guitar of the verse lets Robbie’s bass line bleed through. There is a couple lead guitar licks underneath the second chorus. This leads into a small minor solo.
8.) “Bruised” – The intro to this track consisted of a small Keri rhythm riff over the top of Bobby playing a drum rhythm with his tom-toms. This leads into a chorus instead of a verse. The only difference between the musical intro and the verse was the addition of a second rhythm guitar riff. The band intensifies the verse a little more than the chorus. The song goes through several timing changes which shows you just how much talent there is in this band.
9.) "Moonlite Mile" - Cover of the Rolling Stones song taken from their 1971 release titled 'Sticky Fingers'. This was the first album recorded under the newly formed Rolling Stones Records.
10.) “Jimmy” - I can sum this track up in two words, THIN LIZZY. If one did not know any better they would swear this was a Thin Lizzy cove song!!!! I have honestly never heard a song written or performed that sound as much like another group as this song does!