LABEL: ROADRUNNER JAPAN RRCY-1089
OVERALL: 91%
Produced by: Paul Orofino
OVERALL: 91%
Produced by: Paul Orofino
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LABEL: ROADRUNNER JAPAN RRCY-1089 OVERALL: 91% Produced by: Paul Orofino | ||||
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Damn! This is a pretty diverse record. And a damn good one also. Welcome back to peak form Tony Harnell. Westworld is a side project for all of these guys, with Tony kicking on with TNT, Bruno Ravel on bass from Danger Danger and guitarist Mark Reale from Riot. The drummer is John O'Reilly. A side project maybe, but a band that will apparently continue and let's hope they will. This is really good melodic music. Illusions will be hard to top as one of the best songs this year. A 80's keyboard/piano intro and then a hard edged guitar riff like I haven't heard for so long. Then Tony's vocals going off like the brilliant TNT album Tell No Tales. Maybe not quite as high though!! | ||
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Straight ahead hard rock with a chorus that soars and soars higher again. Very 80's hard rock, but with a big 90's production. Great anthem rocker. I Belong shows the diversity of this album by immediately jumping into 90's hard rock. Some distorted vocals and a more distorted guitar lead in this uptempo rocker. But a bridge and a chorus that both rise and use the strengths of Harnell's great voice. More cool soloing and plenty of melodies in a harder vein. Pigeon Hole is different again. Cleaver is it's time and melody changes, this track starts like a modern rock track, raw vocals and then slips into a moody chorus with a slow atmospheric harmony vocals. After the opening 2 tracks, it's almost a ballad, but an uptempo one at that. Heart Song opens with some acoustic guitar and a mellower vocal from Harnell, not unlike the Morning Wood album. Laid back until the chorus powers ahead and Harnel let's fly with a big TNT power ballad vocal. Huge! Little Voices has an unusual guitar/moody vocal intro that instead of exploding like you expect, mearly changes to another tempo. The chorus rises a little and ends with a sharp piece of guitar and the song dives back into mid pace. It gets heavier after the half way mark and could be described overall as a moody mid tempo rocker. Bring The Water To Me starts acoustically but after a soft intro vocal bursts into full hard rock mode. Strong vocal and a good rocker. Love You Insane is another modern 90's rocker, with some heavy guitars and a dark overall feel. It swaps tempo back and forth occasionally and has no obvious chorus. Shame starts fairly laid back. A mid paced electric and acoustic guitar backing the vocal. But the chorus is heavier and more passionate as the song finally reveals itself as a mid tempo rock ballad. Ivory Towers has a classic guitar riff to start things off and is modern again in style. Hard edged, there is a bridge and a chorus that is softer and more restrained than might have been expected. Clever use of structure. A heavier verse than chorus. Suicide is an acoustic rock ballad in the vein of Morning Wood. A great strong ballad and some acapella vocals that accompany the acoustic guitar and lead vocal. A nice laid back way to end the album. This is a very solid hard rock album with hints of classic TNT, 4 The Hard Way style Danger Danger and a great emphasis on technical and precise playing and production. And appealing diversity without losing the general melodic thread of the album's style. A better hard rock release will be hard to find. | PRODUCTION: 90% | SONGS: 90% | VIBE: 92% | ATTITUDE: 93% | ESSENTIAL FOR: Fans of good solid melody filled hard rock. Most TNT fans and Riot and Danger Danger fans. |
21/02/03: Big MIke - bigmike@hotmail.com
20/08/99: Lionheart - lionheart.tnt@iname.com
17/08/99: Hardrock Johnny - hardrockjohnny@hotmail.com
14/07/99: Chris - Davis5150@aol.com
11/07/99: Torgny E - dotte@mbox318.swipnet.se
27/06/99: Cindy P. - trinitrot@att.net
21/06/99: Andy M. - andy.meiser@netway.at
17/06/99: TONI H. - gbasesores@cgbasesores.redestb.es
09/06/99: Josep Maria Flores Garcia - jflores@racclub.net
05/06/99: Jason Bullinger - jbull@fiertrail.com
18/05/99: Javier Miranda - prourma@cempresarial.com
13/05/99: Ryddles - Ryddles@aol.com
04/04/99: Paul Orofino - Milbrksnd@aol.com
ADD YOUR OWN REVIEW!
Rating: 40
Andrew overates Westworld for mine but the style is good and there's a couple of great songs here. It's a good Melodic Hard rock style but I think the songs could be better.
Rating: 10
I've had this CD for 5 months now and never get tired of it. I am also a HUGE TNT and Riot fan, so when I heard of this union, I was ecstatic. Sure enough, this album does not disappoint one bit. All ten songs are something to behold. As usual Tony is unbelievable, and Mark Reale shines with some memorable riffs. It's my album of the year for '99!
Rating: 93
After reading the review, i decided to get this album and am glad that i did, because it is a cd of very well crafted and diverse hard rock. My favorite songs are little voices and I belong . overall, an excellent album, riht up there with Steelhouse Lane and Pink cream 69 as my favorite albums of 1999.
(Note To North Americans:Westworld is now available in the usa on spitfire records which makes it more affordable. The track listing is screwed up, but you can get the real one from the review above.
Rating: 95
I love this album...pure melodic hard rock!!!!
Rating: 95
As a long time fan of Tony Harnell and Riot (80's lineup), it was pure bliss to hear this fantastic record. One of the better ones I've heard in a while. I want more...much more.
Rating: 100
WestWorld is just palin AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ithink Tony should stick with this and promote the hell out of iteverywhere!!
Rating: 90
I've had this CD for quite some time now and I still can't get enough of 'Illusions' (definitely one of the best songs 1999,
that's for sure) and 'Heart Song' (soooo beautiful...). 'Bring The Water To Me', 'Shame' or 'Suicide' - some more songs that
can just be called GREAT. Although it is real heavy at times, it's still so melodic. I've always been a fan of TNT and Tony's
voice which seems better than ever - if only they did another CD like Tell No Tales or Intuition. Probably we'll have to
wait/hope for t s
Rating: 10
Un gran album con grandes músicos.
Rating: 95
If you like TNT, Danger Danger, a powerful drummer and a good guitar player (I dont know the band call Riot), what could you expect from this band: an excellent album. And this is what you got.
I think I prefer a second Westworld album than a TNT album like "Firefly".
Adeu.
Rating: 92
I have always loved TNT and Tony's vocals are excellent. So I was going to buy this one and I'm glad I did. I'm always trying
to find groups that can bridge the gap of melodic rock and modern
rock. This is a great example. What stands out to me on this
album is great songwriting. I find this lacking in some melodic
music. I cant wait until the next album
Jason
Rating: 90
Once upon at time a band called TNT... When?, Where?
Congratulations!
I´m excited waiting for the second album.
Rating: 90
F bags and Cheesewhiz!!!!!
Rating: 0
Hi guys;
I am the producer/engineer of the Westworld record, (as well as records by Joe Lynn Turner, Riot, Morning Wood etc,) I
would like to thank you personally for the great review. By the way, The boys and I are getting ready for the second album...
and I are getting ready for the second