Great White's new album "Elation" will be one of those albums that is in the top 10 of 2012 that will be greatly discussed, debated and critiqued...in my opinion. I have had the honor to review and listen to this album for a couple days now...and I had my mixed feelings on this going into listening to this album. Like it has been talked about for months now regarding Jack Russell versus Great White (now feat. Terry Illous) has sparked a lot of controversy and discussion pertaining to legitimacy of who is Great White and who is not. Well, I went into listening this album from two directions; one from being a Great White fan and the other from the standpoint of being a fan of Terry Illous. Personally, I have always liked Illous' music, voice and projects over the decades whether it was XYZ, FYCO, solo or anything else...he is one of my top 10 best vocalists (IMO). On the other hand, we have Great White... their music and albums have stood the test of time and they have a signature sound and voice (Jack Russell). Though we are presented here with an obvious lead vocalists change here for "Elation". Now there will be people on here and elsewhere (and maybe even Andrew) that will like or hate this album because of the Russell vs. GW war going on. Though, I put that out of my mind and went into this objectively from two points of view; Great White and Terry Illous. From a Great White perspective, this album was not great at all. Great White has always had a signature style, vibe, and sound (minus the vocals) that we all could easily recognize and identify. That is not here at all. This appears to be Great White trying not to be Great White, though mocking a Great White style/influence cover band. It doesn't sound anything like GW at all. The only song that barely resembles classic GW (and this is pushing it) was the song "Just For Tonight", and this sounds like a leftover demo from a decade or two ago that was meshed together in some fashion. Disappointing overall as a Great White album/release and effort. I would rate this on a [b]71/100[/b]. Now, from the Terry Illous perspective....what a great release. I enjoyed this on the second round listening to this as a Terry Illous solo project/release. I truly enjoyed it a lot in this way. The style of his voice and the selection of bluesy, bar-rock, soulful vibe really has a solid match for this release. The only odd ball track was the bonus track "Lowdown", did not fit the release, in fact it reminds me of a leftover idea from the Illous/Northrup sessions a few years back (which could have been - don't know). This could easily be identified as a Terry Illous solo album featuring guest musicians from the band formerly known as Great White. Overall, I am looking forward to listening to the album again psyching myself into thinking this is a good Terry Illous solo effort. I rate it from this point of view on a [b]83/100[/b]. My advise to all; trying listening from a Terry Illous fan (if you are one) rather than a GW fan and you might actually enjoy it for what it is. Cheers!http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889295#msg-889295Wed, 22 May 2013 06:11:44 +1000 Phorum 5.2.16 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889550#msg-889550 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889550#msg-889550 Troy NoticeboardSat, 28 Apr 2012 03:43:26 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889545#msg-889545 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889545#msg-889545

This album is snooze fest city. There are 2 or 3 songs that I can actually listen to all the way through.]]> DirtyPennyIowa NoticeboardSat, 28 Apr 2012 03:01:45 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889541#msg-889541 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889541#msg-889541 Troy NoticeboardSat, 28 Apr 2012 01:54:05 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889484#msg-889484 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889484#msg-889484 sharkfist NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 19:47:16 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889475#msg-889475 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889475#msg-889475 Daredevil NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 17:50:36 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889460#msg-889460 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889460#msg-889460-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah... for me they are ideal, as I prefer more
> introspective stuff, and have lately grown kinda
> tired of the same old-same old 80's sounding
> projects.
> Niv

Couldn't agree more Niv. HEAT's latests is perhaps the main exception to the rule. They are the real deal, great players who it seems are maybe the band of this generation, that are genuinely bringing what is typically 80's music to a new audience. But yes, there does seem to be a slew of bands "trying" to be the reincarnate of various 80's bands, and it borders on not knowing if they are for real, formulated or a quick buck joke thats on us! Frontiers have brought us some great stuff..but boy, don't they know that there is a guaranteed (if limited) paycheque of a certain size from these "projects" they cuts and paste together.

Thank heavens some of the greats from the era have matured. Some of them can just about get away with re-creating their past, others would just look and sound ridiculous. I have never understood whY some fans have the perception that bands and the members have been frozen in time, and expect them to be the same people, players, writers, performers that they were 25 years ago. Its quite sad.]]> Scott NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 16:32:32 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889441#msg-889441 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889441#msg-889441
Many casual Great White fans don't even know that first album exists- to me that's their best by a fair stretch. It has more balls , more character than anything they've released since IMHO and almost is it's own category .... sorta bluesy metal.

If they released it these days the lyrics would seem a bit lame but for the time it was a killer album. Stick It ,Bad Boys their version of Substitute etc... that's the Great White I enjoy.]]> the ORIGINAL brent NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 10:58:49 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889437#msg-889437 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889437#msg-889437Back To The Rhythm is a great feel-good, summery rock track in itself... would have been a surefire hit in September 1989! (I assume... I was only 2 & 1/2 at the time!)
Niv]]> nivjourney NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 09:06:50 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889436#msg-889436 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889436#msg-889436Terry has that raw voice, but with a higher pitch, which I think will be perfect for Great White, and I can't wait to hear the band progress. He's definitely a better fit than Jani Lane if the lawsuit against Jack is anything to go by, and isn't as gruff as Paul Shortino (who has a VERY bluesy voice, which i'm assuming people here would have really hated!).
Niv]]> nivjourney NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 09:03:26 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889434#msg-889434 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889434#msg-889434 Troy NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 09:00:07 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889432#msg-889432 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889432#msg-889432Back To The Rhythm was full of energy in it's own bloozy r'n'r way. Rising not as much, but had some great songs... nice to hear one of those "old 80's bands" mature, rather than still trying to re-write the 80's over again... Like oh so many of these fuck-awful European bands around at the moment.
I listen to the last album more than alot of their back catalogue, because it's fits the mood i'm in when I want some laid-back introspective blues-rock... which is Something that Bread never really did... ever.
Niv]]> nivjourney NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 08:55:42 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889426#msg-889426 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889426#msg-889426 Troy NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 08:01:21 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889421#msg-889421 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889421#msg-889421
It doesn't even sound like XYZ.

I love Great White and I love Terry, but this release is complete crap to me.

"Welcome to the love train...." OMG, somebody shoot me.]]> DirtyPennyIowa NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 06:59:44 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889395#msg-889395 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889395#msg-889395
And for me, I'm liking the CD and glad they didn't layer the voice more. I like the raw feel because it fits Great White's sound. If they were trying to record Once Bitten 2, i can see your point, but ever since hooked Great White's sound has been a little more Raw/Live sounding and Terry has the perfect voice for that.]]> Troy NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 02:54:01 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889394#msg-889394 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889394#msg-889394> great at all. Great White has always had a
> signature style, vibe, and sound (minus the
> vocals) that we all could easily recognize and
> identify. That is not here at all. This appears to
> be Great White trying not to be Great White,
> though mocking a Great White style/influence cover
> band. It doesn't sound anything like GW at all.
> The only song that barely resembles classic GW
> (and this is pushing it) was the song "Just For
> Tonight", and this sounds like a leftover demo
> from a decade or two ago that was meshed together
> in some fashion. Disappointing overall as a Great
> White album/release and effort. I would rate this
> on a 71/100.


With all due respect to your opinion. After hearing the leak, I don't know how you can say it doesn't sound like great white. It's got Great White all over it. It's pretty obvious Kendall/Lardie riffs on nearly every single song. There was maybe 2 songs...MAYBE...that didn't really have an immediate Great White feel. Vocal style, yes, that's a little different, but it's pretty much exactly what I expected, and musically it's sounds 100% like Great White.]]> Troy NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 02:50:31 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889387#msg-889387 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889387#msg-889387 Snake65 NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 01:49:40 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889386#msg-889386 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889386#msg-889386 JLPRocks NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 01:46:07 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889379#msg-889379 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889379#msg-889379 Daredevil NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 00:59:04 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889377#msg-889377 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889377#msg-889377 soldierofthenight NoticeboardFri, 27 Apr 2012 00:51:33 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889358#msg-889358 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889358#msg-889358
Musically, I think this is better than the last 2 GW w/Jack but they need to do some post production to Terry's voice to give it some "bite" or "meat" as good as he is as a singer, this needs to sound like it's more than a dry demo, A perfect example is how his voice was tracked on the Bridger CD. whatever they did on that, they should've done here.

Bottom line: Do I miss Jack on this CD? No. But his absence is felt on certain tracks. Is Terry the future of GW? We'll have to see. This album sounds really rushed (and it was) so hopefully they have time to properly dial in Terry on the next release. (Hire JK Northrup to record his voice and mix the next album, Terry works well with him)

After listening to this album, I don't think Jack could top it unless he enlisted Alan Niven and/or Jack Blades to co-write and produce his next album. There's a lot of tunes fit for Jack on "Elation" so I can hear the songwriters are definitely in GW.]]> Probie Sheen NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 22:30:15 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889344#msg-889344 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889344#msg-889344I'd personally go with "mature laid-back blues-rock", but... tomatoe/tomahto.
As long it's not a genuine 100% snoozefest like Journey's Eclipse :-p
Niv]]> nivjourney NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 20:03:00 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889329#msg-889329 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889329#msg-889329 Daredevil NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 18:33:07 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889323#msg-889323 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889323#msg-889323
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiNXX6aumbE&feature=relmfu]]> patiscat NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 17:36:03 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889322#msg-889322 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889322#msg-889322 Troy NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 17:31:18 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889319#msg-889319 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889319#msg-889319
Problem as I see it - the album is just waaaay to long (61 mins) and the songs within are waaaay to long (only 5 of 12 tracks under 5 mins). It just takes so long to get from Point A to Point B.]]> Andrew NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 16:46:54 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889318#msg-889318 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889318#msg-889318 Marco NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 16:46:10 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889312#msg-889312 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889312#msg-889312
I do know a few of GW's older songs, but never really listened to their albums.]]> mike1990 NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 14:00:36 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889311#msg-889311 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889311#msg-889311early Great White (post ".....Twice Shy"they haven't done much for me other than the odd song ,even though I bought a number of albums hoping for a return for form - meaning heavier) - sounds like this won't do much for me but I'll still be keen to hear the samples.

Thanks for the review.]]> the ORIGINAL brent NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 13:13:14 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889307#msg-889307 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889307#msg-889307 Probie Sheen NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 12:40:02 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889306#msg-889306 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,889295,889306#msg-889306 Troy NoticeboardThu, 26 Apr 2012 12:01:51 +1000