| Wig Wam - 'Non Stop Rock and Roll' | Released through Frontier Records |
THE BAND:
Glam – vocals
Teeny – guitars
Flash – bass
Sporty – drums
TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) “Do Ya Wanna Taste It” – This rack opens with the title lyric before going into the musical intro. The intro to this track consisted of four measures of a classic hard rock musical intro. There was a small rhythm arrangement change for the musical verse. In between each lyric line there was a small backing vocal. For one reason or another, this type of vocal arrangement has not been used often. For whatever reason to me it gives the vocals a great sound, and really compliments Glam’s vocals. There was a small Queen backing harmony vocal line connecting the verse with the chorus. The chorus was taken right from eighties hard rock. There is a small breakdown section connecting the first chorus with the second verse. There is a second small breakdown connecting the second & third chorus.
2.) “Walls Come Down” – This track is pure classic eighties hard rock songwriting 101!!!
3.) “Wild One” – This intro consisted of a simple Angus Young influenced rhythm guitar arrangement. The band used the same rhythm guitar arrangement for the musical verse as the intro. There was a small lead guitar riff connecting the musical verse with the musical pre-chorus. It is at this time that Teeny overdubbed a second rhythm guitar arrangement. There is a rhythm arrangement change for the musical chorus. The backing vocals of the chorus give the chorus a huge hook. The second musical verse consisted of two different rhythm guitar arrangements. Connecting the second chorus with the lead guitar solo there is a breakdown section. For this breakdown section Sporty switched from playing a standard hi-hat rhythm to playing a rhythm on his tom-toms. The lead guitar solo was pretty much what you would expect from this type of song. After the lead guitar solo there is a second breakdown section for this breakdown section Sporty made use of his cowbell.
4.) “C’mon Everybody” – This track opens with a simple rhythm guitar riff. About one measure into the rhythm riff Teeny overdubbed a second rhythm. There was a minor lead guitar solo connecting the intro to the musical verse. There was a minor rhythm arrangement change for the musical verse. The pre-chorus and chorus had a huge hook attached to them. There was a drastic musical change after the second chorus where the band slowed the music down. The breakdown and lead guitar solo was very reminiscent of early Autograph.
5.) “Man In The Moon” – This track opens with a clean electric picking pattern. About one measure into the intro an acoustic guitar kicks-in over the top of it. After the first lyric line there is a huge drum fill that kicks-in the drums. It is also at this time a second electric guitar rhythm kicks-in. There not only a rhythm change for the chorus but the band also incorporated an orchestrated arrangement. After the second chorus there is a one measure rhythm change that leads into the lead guitar solo.
6.) “Still I’m Burning” – This was a very simple song with huge chorus hooks.
7.) “All You Wanted” – Classic rock –n- 101!!
8.) “Non Stop Rock And Roll” – This track opens with a classic Angus Young guitar riff. About two measures into the intro Teeny double-tracked a second rhythm guitar riff. There was a rhythm arrangement change for the musical verse. In many ways the musical verse reminded me of early Van Halen. The band kept he chorus short and simple just like it should be for this style of music. There is a lead guitar solo after the second chorus. The lead guitar solo was more intense than I expected. After the lead guitar solo there was a small breakdown section. It’s songs like these that makes this type of music fun to play!
9.) “From Here” – This is one of those masterpiece hard rock ballads!
10.) “Rocket Through My Heart” – The intro to this track consists of a very simple drum pattern. The musical verse consists of two different rhythm guitar arrangements. The chorus was all hook! The second verse is a repeat of the first musically. Vocally it sounded as if it was double-tracked. The lead guitar solo of this song was double-tracked and fit the song perfectly!!!
11.) “Chasing Rainbows” – This track opens with a huge tom-tom and bass drum fill. There is a minor lead guitar solo over the top of the main musical intro section. The rhythm guitar of the musical pre-verse had a huge classic eighties feel to it. There was a bass line change for the musical verse. For me it was this bass line that made the verse. The chorus had a huge hook attached to it. After the second chorus there is a classic eighties hard rock lead guitar solo. There was a child’s choir over the top of the breakdown section.
12.) “Gotta Get It O n” – (bonus track) – There was a minor lead guitar solo over the top of this intro. The rhythm guitar of the verse was laced in between the lead vocal lines. There was a rhythm arrangement change for the musical chorus. There is a lead guitar solo connecting the second and third chorus.
How can you not love a band that opens their CD with the track, “You Wanna Taste It?”? ‘Non Stop Rock and Roll’ is the fourth release from the prince’s of Glam Metal. Norwegian’s own Wig Wam. I say prince only out of respect for who I call Kings of Glam, Sweet. For me, the band took the best of the huge over the top eighties Glam Metal guitar riffs and mixed them with the best of the eighties vocals arrangements. It’s been over twenty years since I can since I’ve been able to say here is a Glam band that does not sound cheesy! If you’re into good solid Glam Metal this is an absolute must have!