Customer Reviews

Frost Music

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is guitarist/singer Dick Wagner's first album, and a fine one it is for those of us who love well executed garage band music. These guys had musical talent and could write songs! Think the Castaways "Liar, Liar" or the Strawberry Alarm Clock's "Incense & Peppermints" (only harder), or better yet, a more musically talented Electric Prunes. The song MYSTERY MAN was a big hit in the midwest during the 60s, and it's a real shame that it isn't on the Nuggets compilation. It's lead in companion piece TAKE MY HAND is also top-notch, as are the 3 songs that precede it. THE FIRST DAY OF MAY, shows Wagner in all of his pathos, a man confronting the sometimes meaninglessness of life and failing at playing the part of the hero! Somebody really ought to cover this song. BABY ONCE YOU GOT IT is a great rock and roll song, and an acquaintence once told me that it was his favorite. SUZIE SINGER is a humor song about the band and their girlfriends. There's some long drawn out guitar jamming on side 2 that gets a little shrill, but there's alot to like on this CD.

By the way, Wagner went on to become Alice Cooper's guitart (Billion Dollar Babies), and also played on albums by Lou Reed & Peter Gabriel. For any of you collectors still looking for great undiscovered 60s rock, this is a great disc.

Dick Wagner was the man back in the late 60s, every midwest guitarist was trying to emulate his guitar style. Great singer, songwriter and guitaist--he had it all. Jenny Lee is one of my all time favorite pop songs.

This is a quintessential album from one of the great Detroit rock bands from the late 1960's, early 1970's. They have a certain sound that is very unique and their songs tell many a tale through great chords and lyrics. I love to put this CD on and press the 'repeat' button and let it play over and over again. I never tire of hearing these great tunes!

I absolutely love this album. I bought it a few years after I first heard of this band. A friend had the Rock and Roll Music album and I liked what I heard but never saw any of their albums in the stores until I went to Torrejon Air Base in Spain. I picked this, their first album up for about 90 cents in the base exchange and was quite surprised when I listened to it. The songs are bright sounding and very well played. I especially like Jenny Lee, Take My Hand/Mystery Man, and Standing in the Shadows. Dick Wagner is one of my favorite guitar players and ever since I heard this album, I have closely followed his career from the Bossmen up to his work with Ursa Major, Lou Reed, and Alice Cooper. Dickie and the guys, you rock!

I have the priv. of knowing 3 of the 4 band members, and still remain close to two of them.. their music was b4 my time (sorry guys), they continue to do reunion concerts that pack the ppl in. If you like classic rock, this CD is a must have, along with their greatest hits. They need to put out another CD, Don and Bobs vocals remain as strong today as they did back then, if not more improved and refined.

This is great rock. Great songs played with passion. 'Dick' sorta sounds like Paul McCartney, 'Don' has a gnarly bluesy voice. The guitars sting and swoop all over the place. Great melodic type bass playing, not the boring one note crap you hear a lot of today. The drumming is exceptional- sorta Keith Moonish but controlled, very original and emotional and really drives the music. The songs and lyrics are great. Singable and catchy songs plus others with some hints of bluesiness, and Dick Wagner's lead guitar playing is furious. "Mystery Man" was a local hit in my area over 30 years ago. I can't get enough of this music. I grew up with it and I'm buying it now on CD, plus "Rock And Roll Music" and "Through The Eyes Of Love."

Okay, admittedly The Frost was not the greaest band on rock history, or even Detroit rock history. And I will freely admit that when I proposed a member of my band that we bcome a Frost tribute band, I got a pretty good laugh out of it.

But back in 1970, we thought they were pretty darn good, and you know what? They were. Great live act, and they had a couple of really good songs that still sound good after 30+ years.

I wouldn't try to talk anyone who didn't grow up into Detroit into buying this album. But of you were in High School when "Mystery Man" was playing on CKLW, you really owe it to yourself to buy this album and share it with your grandkids ;-)

I can't count the times I hitchhiked across Michigan to catch a Frost gig and this album captures the raw energy that was The Frost.

Well, the name "The Frost" sais they are not the most emotional unit. They are a heavy metal band, but with acoustic moments reminiscent of Led Zep, or the Guess Who. MC5 may be their biggest influence. They point the way to Grand Funk Railroad. They are not so high energy, actuallly. The acoustic songs are nice breaks from the heavier moments, but don't stand so great on their own. The feel of the metal moments is one of longing, an emotional feeling, which is not the most appropriate way to do metal. When they just rock out, that's when they're at their best. They draw on blues, but also soul, for influences on the heavier tunes. Grand Funk/MC5/Guess Who, done as metal before metal was clearly defined. know what I mean?

I thought that just because one of the guitarists had played with Lou Reed this album would be good. I was wrong. I've discovered that just because someone does good guitar work in one instance doesn't mean he can play at all in another. And it certainly doesn't mean that just because someone can play a song well, that he can write songs himself. This is bottom of the barrel songwriting. I can imagine the CD being very useful as a tea cozy! The people who would buy this on their own would be the kind to retire to bed early and drink tea maybe! Okay, I'm jestin' But seriously, I woun't recommend this band to anyone outside of a 60's fanatic or collector, and definitely not to someone who loves rock and roll. If you like the 60's and only want to listen to that, or to go into depth in researching the 60's that's fine, this album is okay. But the Frost is no better than your average bar band. The song Jenny is the best here, but it's still hard to pay attention to, and the entire album is mostly pretty boring. I would suggest to the guitarist and bassist to practice their scales because their playing is loose. But the drummer is pretty good. All in all, this is good for someone's high school band, or bar band after work.