If you want something with more of a shredding volume we have Wendy Case and Company’s second long player. Ten cuts of Rawk with a few pinches of Boogie.
They transpose the late sixties of Free, Janis Joplin, Ten Years After and the 5 (though Wendy doesn’t quite have the range of any of those singers — except for maybe Alvin Lee who was pretty limited himself — but she trumps with gusto) into the concision and energy of the post ‘76 world.
There is less melodicism than on the first album, though a few songs gather a little sweetness via backing vocals. The rhythms are generally straight ahead, more a Quarter-Mile run than the some of the tri-curved IRL tracks that popped up on the previous platter.
Lead off cut When I’m Gone is prime example of all of this, being a mid-tempo stomp that furrows a berm of slashing guitars, constant thwumping snare with some understated cymbal coloring and Ms. Case’s hoarse wail. A tumbling, Classic Rock guitar solo makes an entrance as the end approaches.
It is the different guitar leads, mostly by Danny Mehtric, that helps in differentiating these numbers. In Me the guitars drop out for the verses but the leads come in various guises at the tail of the choruses, first as basic Chuck Berry. In Scotch Love it slices and wails. For Jumpy guest pedal steel player Calvin brings a sweet, Duane Allmanesque tone to the stomping.
There are two numbers where Ms. Case is joined by other voices. This seems to induce some breathing room and a bit more concern with melody. The terrific rocker Bright Side is elevated via a stacked chorale backing. Today And Everyday is a barely minute-and-three-quarters stab at Pop-Rock, thick and hearty version.
And when all is said and done we come to the closing, eleventh cut: a cover of the final T. Rex single, Celebrate Summer, from 1977. Properly trimmed and given a thicker hide with a heightening of Bolan’s favored Eddie Cochran riffing; ‘tis a glorious thing.
[Released by Get Hip 2004]
Be the first to comment