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Blades, Jack: Rock 'n' Roll Ride

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Records
by Craig Hartranft,  03.12.2012

Jack Blades needs little introduction. From his stints with Night Ranger and Damn Yankees to collaborations with the likes Ringo Starr, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, among others, Blades is an excellent and proficient songwriter, singer and bass player. Now on the heels of Night Ranger's latest Somewhere in California, Blades offers his second solo effort, Rock 'n' Roll Ride.

Above, Jack Blades: still sharp.

Cutting to the chase: Rock 'n' Roll Ride is a great album, with every song a good one. Many of these tunes could have been on the latest Night Ranger album. (Several members give Jack a hand here.) But having them here is like having a double shot of your favorite single malt Scotch.

There's some big crunchy rockers with Back in the Game and the title cut. Some motivational inspiration on Don't Give Up and Rise and Shine. Hey Now offers classic Shaw/Blades acoustic groove. The dreamy, Beatlesque, West Hollywood was penned with Cheap Trick's Robin Zander. Hardest Word to Say and Anything for You are AOR melodic rock magic; the former more a ballad, the latter with a beautiful vocal arrangment. The big anthems are the amazing Love Life and Born for This, the top tracks here.

Frankly, though I prefer some songs over others, Jack Blades' Rock 'n' Roll Ride is all good, a great ride. Blades is still sharp. Strongly recommended.

Jack Blades' Rock 'n' Roll Ride is all good, a great ride. Blades is still sharp. Strongly recommended.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]