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Artist: Johnny Lima |
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Well after spending some three years behind the mixing desk Johnny Lima is back out front doing what he does best, playing good kick ass rock and with this follow up to 'Version 1.2', on the album ‘Livin Out Loud’, Lima has put together twelve monster rock tracks that will see the man back where he belongs at the forefront of great rock once more. This is a grittier, almost sleazy album that shows another side of Lima many wouldn’t expect after 'Version 1.2', but this is a welcome change in direction and an album that rocks from track one all the way to track twelve, with no fillers in between. Things get underway with 'All I Wanna Do’, a great riff filled spectacle to get things underway as Lima lifts all the fine stylings of the 80’s rock and brings it kicking and screaming into the now, aided and abetted by Craig Takeshita on guitars, Bernie F. Diaz on drums, with guest appearances by Danny Danzi, Christian Wolff and Brandon Baumann. There is more than a touch of The Cult on ‘Wildflower’, not just the name but a few riffs are very Cultish too, but this still a great rocker with Danzi providing a second solo on the track. Speaking of great rockers the excellent ‘Hate To Love You’ and 'I’m On Fire’ are just superb mid tempo rockers that wouldn’t go a miss on a certain Mr Poley’s solo material. The pace is brought down a touch with the gentle rocker ‘Somebody To Love’ before picking straight back up with one of many favourites off the album ‘Caught In The Middle’, which again features Danzi providing a stunning solo for this song. This is rock n' roll at it’s best for sure. All the essence of 80’s Sunset Strip is brought back with ‘Gimme Some Rock, So I Can Roll’, with even a reference to the Crue in the lyrics. That’s always gonna be a winner in my book alone. The up-tempo rock just keeps on coming with the title track ‘Livin’ Out Loud’, the tuned down guitars on this one really bring out the best in this track and add to that sleaze factor of the album. Lima shows his sensitive side with ‘Still Waiting For You’, not a ballad but a real stylish track with a powerful backbeat, and that powerful backbeat is what drives the next song ‘Long Way Down’, with Lima providing his best vocal performance of the entire album on this one. This one has that Firehouse vibe and will appeal to many of their fans for sure. It's time for a little melodic keyboards with the Bon Joviesque ‘Hard To Say Goodbye’, before rounding up the album with my track of the album the simply superb power filled ’Til Love Is Gone’, which wraps up a great album and one that will be one constant replay for many months to come.
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Tracklisting:
01.
All I Wanna Do
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