Metal Reviews
Metal Reviews
The Blue RoomUnion |
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If you were given the task of selecting a single word to sum up the collaboration between Bruce Kulick (KISS) and John Corabi (MOTLEY CRUE, THE SCREAM) it would be, "Big." Gigantic waves of sound and presence that sinks the floor are this groups greatest asset and though that would be enough for most bands to take a run at the golden ring it is just the beginning for UNION. "THE BLUE ROOM" is only album number three, (second studio), for this collective that also includes the rhythm section of Brent Fitz(drums) and Jamie Hunting(bass) yet the performance sounds much more experienced than its age would ever let on. Take "Dead" for instance, the hook is irremovable once it is in the ear and the vocal is pure rock and roll undiluted by even the slightest contrivance. Pure, there is another word worth using to describe the band. If you are looking for growth since the first album, there isn't much. This is still your basic straight-ahead whoop and howl rock and roll overlaid with melodies too obvious to be ignored by radio a second time. "Everything's Alright" is custom tailored for rock revival radio without the listener being left feeling that was the original intention. The overall sonic texture of "THE BLUE ROOM" is a few shades closer to a digitally recorded sound than the warm and fuzzy analog sound of the first album yet they manage to retain every ounce of the formers natural feeling. KISS fans will be able to draw a bit more from "Dear Friend" which is Bruce Kulick's personal message to his, and the rock world's departed friend, Eric Carr. Kulick also handles the lead vocals on this track save for the chorus which Corabi belts out. "Hypnotized" relates the story of so many Middle American girls and what happens to them when they chase that dream in New York or LA. Check Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" for reference. "I Wanna Be" has the most flawless build that I have heard in a song for far too many years to even admit. The orchestration of guitars is subtle but make the song. UNION should have happened in a far bigger way then they have, mostly because what they do, they do better than anyone else out there. "THE BLUE ROOM" is big in an artistic way now all that remains is to make it big in a commercial way.Released by Spitfire Records. Review by David Lee |
The Blue Room (another review)Union |
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Wow, this is more than I first expected… and we're only about a minute into the first song! "Do Your Own Thing" speaks volumes as the lead track to the new Union disc, "The Blue Room." Kulick came up with a real catchy guitar hook on this one, and nicely done vocal chorus! And yeah, check your pulse if you don't catch the opening right off… but more importantly, take the hint! On what is their third, and I'd dare say their most accomplished and adventuresome work to date, this could well be the make or break record for Union. Having never been granted much of an opportunity to stand out much in either of their previous bands, the talented team of singer John Corabi and guitarist/layering technician extraordinaire in this case, Bruce Kulick really upped the anti this time around. The first studio disc they did a few years back was decent enough for the first go round but here it's easy to see the strides they've taken having been afforded the time to work together a little longer. Tunes like "Dead" and "Everything's Alright" are good examples of stylistic divergence, still within the realm of rock, yet we could move from ground level to an emotional high in a matter of seconds and not even realize the difference. "The Blue Room" has that "big" sound thanks to the production work of Bob Marlette, while retaining the close to home foundation they'd first established before. Showmanship's never taken the lead over integrity and for that maybe Union will ultimately slit their own throat but in the end, they've always got something to be proud of-"Everything's Alright," "Shine," "Dear Friend." In fact this last song was written and sung by Mr. Kulick in remembrance of former Kiss band mate Eric Carr and he does a respectable job on one of the album's best! "Who Do you Think you Are" has a real fire burning through it during the verse and guitar groove and of course as soon as I go in the direction of honesty and integrity and all that, here's Corabi carrying on about some "Motherfucker" he's at odds with! One of their heavier moments even considering the stringy nature of the pre-chorus. An interesting side note is that Kulick fed about twenty-five different guitars through the channels in trying to create a more spacious sound… I'd say he's definitely accomplished that goal. "The Blue Room" is almost like listening to several different albums at once-in fact during the song "Hypnotized," I felt like I was listening to Enuff 'Z Nuff… I mean, what's going on here! Though Union still might stand to gain from adding more melody within the song structures like on "Dear Friend," and "Do You Know My Name," this is an ambitious new record that runs the timeline in capturing the true spirit of rock and roll! Released by Spitfire
Records. Review By Vinnie Apicella |