ALBUM REVIEW: Russell – Guns – Medusa

Over the years, and especially in the last few years Frontiers may have been guilty of creating more than a few ‘collaboration albums’ that, shall we say, have rather a lot in common sonically. Now whilst many of them are largely passable most only have one or two high points and coupled with virtually zero prospect of us ever seeing such music ‘live’ it makes you wonder why. So when I heard about the Jack Russell and Tracii Guns collaboration my first thought was that it might result in something a little different and there may be a chance of seeing it emerge from the studio into a live setting.  Let’s just leave that there for now as you might have read Jack didn’t meet any of the musicians involved with the exception of Mr. Guns.

Jack over the years has been one of my favourite singers, always distinctive, he’s got the perfect pipes for Bluesy 80’s tinged Hard Rock and here on ‘Medusa’ Russel’s voice is very up front in the mix and sounds particularly strong. The only big question really is the provenance of the songs as whilst we’re clearly in Bluesy Hard Rock territory and whilst Jack sings very well and Tracii plays great the songs themselves don’t really bear the stamp of either as far as song-writing rather than playing goes. Lyrically there’s no Jack in there as far as I can tell and if Tracii was writing they’re not his most inspired set of songs of recent years.

We start with the already released taster ‘Next In Line’ which is particularly strong and very representative of the sound of the album as a whole. Like a lot of the songs here it’s good and it’s great to hear Jack bring the music alive, but I have to be honest and say that they’re not the best written set of songs you’ll hear this year and lyrically its pretty much a battle of clichés throughout. Having said that miraculously at the end of it you still go back and I have to largely put that down to how great Jack sounds. Simple as that really.

‘Tell Me Why’ is a hard rocker that puts the foot to the floor and is great fun; ‘Coming Down’ rides a Gunners style riff; and ‘Where I Belong’ has a super cool riff and a catchy sing along 70’s vibe. It’s that last song that probably sees Jack most at home and it’s a real standout from first time around. and my stand out of the album as it services Jack so well and has hook bigger than most here.

‘For You’ that follows amps up the Blues but just doesn’t have it and completely falls on it’s face after the standout that preceded it.  After a few listens I’m convinced it could have been left off entirely. Interestingly ‘Give Me The Night’ another real gem of a song with a wonderful vocal and some real guitarwork from Guns. It’s this and ‘Tell Me Why’ that make this record for me.