|
|
""Our Glass House" repeats a flawless recipe but lacks too many spices to prevent Unruly Child from plunging into the second division of the genre."
|
2/5
|
|
|
|
The history of Unruly Child is far from being a long quiet river. Between line-up changes, the genre change of its singer and an irregular quality level depending on the albums, it is not easy to follow the American formation. Since its return to business in 2010 with "Worlds Collide", the quintet nevertheless seemed to have stabilized. However, here is a new earthquake with the arrival of the king of the fretless bass, the Englishman Tony Franklin, instead of Larry Antonino. Could this give hope for a revival after an uneven "Big Blue World" (2019)?
Things start well with the single 'Poison Ivy', with its dynamic AOR sound and catchy chorus on nice guitar leads. Fast and gleaming, 'Say What You Want' adds some effects and a slightly theatrical approach that hits the bull's eye. All this seems to confirm a comeback in shape of a band whose talent cannot be questioned. The trio Free - Gowdy - Allison knows how to compose flawless tracks, calibrated so that no asperity exceeds. Thus we can enjoy some good riffs ('Underwater', 'The Wooden Monster') and mid-tempi with Westcoast accents to listen to in front of a setting sun ('Our Glass House', 'Talk You Out Of Lovin' Me', 'Freedom Is A Fight'). There are also a few nods to the 80's on 'Underwater' and 'We Are Here To Stay'.
The problem is that this know-how seems to quickly turn into autopilot. Everything is clean and shiny but becomes so smooth that we quickly find ourselves looking for a grip before giving up and letting our attention fly away. The worst thing is that there is not a single unpleasant title to be found here, but just like the ballad 'Catch Up To Yesterday', everything seems to turn into a general smoothness that is quickly forgotten. One even wonders what the point of hiring a bassist of Franklin's caliber. It should be noted that the bass regularly crushes the guitar, whose main feat turns out to be the Hispanic introduction of 'Freedom Is A Fight'.
This is a typical example of an album that can be listened to without causing any unpleasantness but also without triggering more than a slight raise of the eyebrow. By repeating a flawless recipe but cruelly lacking in spices, Unruly Child sinks into the anonymity of a second division from which his undeniable talent and his first eponymous opus (1992) seemed to protect him. What a waste! - Official website
|
|
|
|
|
TRACK LISTING:
01. Poison Ivy - 5:59
02. Say What You Want - 4:50
03. Our Glass House - 6:00
04. Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead - 4:48
05. Talked You Out Of Loving Me - 4:46
 06. Underwater - 5:21
07. Catch Up To Yesterday - 4:57
08. Freedom Is A Fight - 5:16
09. The Wooden Monster - 5:17
10. We Are Here To Stay - 4:47
11. To Be Your Everything 2020 - 5:06
12. Let’s Talk About Love 2020 - 4:26
LINEUP:
Bruce Gowdy: Chant / Guitares / Claviers
Guy Allison: Claviers / Percussions
Jay Schellen: Batterie
Marcie Michelle Free: Chant
Tony Franklin: Basse
|
|
| |
|
(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top of the page
|
| |
|
|
(1) COMMENT(S)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
READERS
2/5 (1 view(s))
|
STAFF:
2/5 (2 view(s))
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
IN RELATION WITH UNRULY CHILD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
OTHER REVIEWS
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT UNRULY CHILD
|
|