Not to be confused with the short-lived 80’s band ‘Dirty White Boy’ which featured the vocal talents of David Glen Eisley’ and guitar licks of the legendary ‘Earl Slick’ this band features none other than singer, songwriter, and guitarist Tony Mitchell of the sadly short-lived and very underrated early 90’s Fleetwood Hard Rock band Kiss of the Gypsy.
After an extended build up opener ‘All She Wrote’ screams Foreigner to me but with a chorus a little less subtle and so big the hairs on the back or your neck stand up. This is vintage-sounding Melodic Rock that hits the spot perfectly, one of the best opening tracks I’ve heard all year. The immediate thought of course after hearing something like that is ‘go on match it then’…
And over the course of the next 11 tracks that’s what the band attempts to do, and achieves – this is truly classy Melodic Hard Rock, forged in the 80’s , tinged with some fiery licks, and wrapped in sweet melodies that temper the latent heat and aggression. It’s Melodic Rock with just the right amount of jagged edges and Mitchell’s voice has lost nothing over the years.
Every song here is solid, from the Kiss of the Gypsy swagger of ‘Dynamite’ through the more classic rock/early Bon Jovi melodies of ‘Hanging’ on a Heartache’; past the sweeping ballad ‘Ride with Angels’ to the searing conclusion with the heavier, bluesier ‘Bring It On’.
On the way there’s not a moment you won’t enjoy, it’s just a question as to the extent and your mood. Tracks like ‘Playin’ Dirty’ and ‘Waitin’ For the Feelin” meld that classic rock sound with AOR sensibilities; whilst other tracks mix it up a bit more. ‘Rise’ offers a great take on the soaring Arena Rock sound; ‘Hell to Pay’ adds a little Metal to the mix; and ‘All in the Name of Rock N Roll’ feels weightier, with a meatier aspect and a dab of blues.
Finally an album where I don’t have to play favourites. Mitchell and his band have created something special here, and really captured the essence of the songs rather than just played it safe, or by numbers, like so many Melodic Rock artists do.
