Label: Frontiers 2013
Review by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom
Pat Travers - The Snortin' Whiskey & Drinkin' Cocaine dude? Yup! The Canadian rocker came first to London U.K. in 1976 in search of a recording contract which was quite easily gained. Not one, but two albums saw the light of day that year where 'Makin Magic' is regarded as his best classic rock work and is full of steller guitar and pumping blues boogie. However, the Travers & Appice album 'It Takes A Lot Of Balls' in 2004 was a great return to form and it's probably my favourite overall album with the bluesy guitarist.
Granted, there might be nothing original in this type of album (especially since Frontiers basically ordered Travers to record an album in the style of his 70s work), but it's still an popular art form amongst ancient blues guitar fans world wide, but Travers take things one step further by including tons of raw attitude as well as the odd cover. There's the remake/take on Eurythmics classic "Here Comes the Rain". Excellent licks and tricks throughout the track by Pat, but otherwise in structure, never quite as interesting as the fantastic original. Let's face it, Anne Lennox is a vocal goddess and Pat's gritty work may not appeal to everybody.
Final verdict: Not too shabby considering that Gene $immons turned down a record deal for Travers at $immons Records already back in 1989. The reason for the demon to say no? Travers was simply too old to rock. Glass houses anyone?
www.pattravers.com
Two RRs is a bit too harsh
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