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I received the
promo single Fashion a couple of weeks ago and I was so impressed with it
I waited with baited breath for the album to hit my doormat and sure as
eggs is eggs the new Hanoi Rocks album lives up my expectations.
With the core
members of the original band Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy the band now
consists of ex-Electric Boys guitar legend Conny Bloom, who has brought in
Andy A.C. Christell also ex-Electric Boys for bass duties, and completing
the line-up we have Lacu on drums, who together with Christell, played
with Michael on his solo material. The chemistry was already there and
with Bloom seemingly being the perfect partner for McCoy, this is what the
fans of Hanoi have been waiting for, a strong band with a strong mind set
and this album is proof of that.
The album gets
underway with ‘Hypermobile’, a great all guns blazing opener that really
takes me back to the bands heyday. From this moment on the band can
do no wrong for me. This is what the fans have been waiting for, a
modern day Hanoi that still retains the same qualities that made them such
a hit back in the early eighties. Slamming guitars, a mean chorus,
good time rock n' roll at its best.
The title track
‘Street Poetry’ is next and the rock just keeps on coming with Monroe’s
vocals as dominant as ever and with McCoy and Bloom mixing it up like two
six string giants.
The single
‘Fashion’ is follows, this mix of reggae and rock is pure old school Hanoi
and could easily been on the 'Two Step From The Move' album. It's
back to the more up tempo rock that has become the new up dated sound of
Hanoi with ‘Highwired’ and one that is very familiar from Monroe’s solo
albums and the Demolition 23 material.
Things get a
little funky on ‘Power Of Persuasion’ and ‘Teenage Revolution’, both old
school Hanoi tracks, but it’s the saxophone on ‘Worth Your Weight In Gold’
that really takes me back.
The combination
of Bloom and McCoy is really brought home on the excellent ‘Transcendental
Grove’, this is where they both bring their own styles to the track and
really bounce off each other.
The writing
combination of Monroe and McCoy have always come up with some excellent
tunes but this album is exceptional, as every song is a gem and with their
salute to rock n' roll. ‘This One’s For Rock N' Roll’ is a prime
example of this, it has everything including jazz piano, saxophone, sleazy
guitars and Monroe’s superb vocals, which I must say haven’t deteriorated
one iota after all these years.
It's back the
rock with ‘Powertrip’, this is what I like to hear good old sleazy rock n'
roll that makes you wanna dance. Things are brought back down a bit with
‘Walkin’ Away’ but then spring back up with the harmonica filled ‘Tootin’
Star’ .
This all meat no
gristle album closes with the amusingly titles instrumental ‘Fumble And
Busy Bee’, this is where Monroe takes a back seat and the rest of the band
grab some of the limelight and close what has to be one of the finest
albums to bear the Hanoi Rocks name to date. |
