Artist: L.A. Guns
   Title: Tales From Strip
   Label: Mascot Records

As a long time fan of LA Guns since their debut release, I have seen many incarnations of the band with band members coming and going.  Non more so than in recent years with the arrival of Jizzy Pearl as lead vocalist.  Don’t get me wrong, Jizzy is great singer, but he doesn’t have that Lewis flare.

But the lack of decent albums over the past few years have led to the steady demise of the band in some peoples eyes. And with founder member Tracii Guns now going on with new project The Brides Of Destruction, was it time for the Guns to call it a day?

With this latest studio release the good name of LA Guns has been well and truly restored with the welcome return to form of vocalist Phil Lewis.  This is the album that LA Guns fans have been waiting a hell of a long time for.  With an entire album of new songs and a new lease of life, the Guns are back and they are shooting from the hip.

Opening up the album with 'I Don’t Mean Nothing', it's clear to see that the band have gone back to basics.  That 80's sound is back and sleaze it here to stay.  Die hard glam fans like myself will absolutely adore this album with its references to the Hollywood and Sunset, this is what LA Guns all about. They are a rock n roll band personified.

With tracks like 'Original Sin', 'Gypsy Soul', and 'Crazy Motorcycle' keeping the strip alive in us all, and the biographic 'Vampire', the band have put together a mixture of moods and styles without going all out 80's revival with this release.  Instead they have brought it kicking and screaming bang back up to date.

With Stacey Blades on guitar, the band have put the legacy of Tracii Guns to sleep.  His style is very reminiscent of Guns whose shoes he fills admirably. This is almost the definitive LA Guns album and a must for all fans of the band. Those of you who have doubted the bands ability to come up with the goods over the past few years, check this album out because it shows you really can't keep an old dog down.

Tracklisting:

1. It Don't Mean Nothing
2. Electric Neon Sunset
3. Gypsy Soul
4. Original Sin
5. Vampire
6. Hollywood's Burning
7. 6.9 Earthshaker
8. Rox Baby Girl
9. Crazy Motorcycle
10. Skin
11. Shame
12. Resurrection
13. Amaneger
14. (Can't Give You) Anything Better Than Love

 

                   

 

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