Customer Reviews

Heat It Up

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

 

 

These guys know how to rock out. Like most of their later albums, there's some serious blues-based groove going on in much of the disc. The songs are catchy and there's just enough slower and somewhat mellow songs. At times their sound is ZZ-Top-ish, which is definitely a good thing. They finish the disc with an excellent funky blues tune called "Fight Back", which always tempts me to relisten to again and again. I hate for it to end!! The musicianship of these guys is very impressive. I once saw them live in concert and got my socks knocked off! Ed DeGarmo is a top notch keyboardist. Dana Key has some awesome guitar pickin' abilities. Tommy Cathey is always solid on his bass. And as far as I'm concerned, I consider Greg Morrow to be one of the best drummers out there today. He seems to know exactly what the song needs every time. If there's a weakness on the album, I'd have to say that the vocals can be a tad annoying, like on "Talk To Me." But for the most part, I really like Key's vocals. DeGarmo throws in some fine vocals too in "We Use the J Word." I rated this disc 4 stars, but I think 4.8 is more like it. My slight annoyance of some of the vocals keeps me from giving it 5 stars.

I bought this in July 1993 and have really grown attached to this CD. The message of new life in Jesus shines clearly in all of the lyrics, the songs are well produced and the band works together like a precision machine. 'God Good, Devil Bad' is a highlight, as are 'Never Look Back' and 'Soldiers of the Cross.'
I can almost detect a bit of Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore here, so any Deep Purple fans out there might want to give this a listen. I saw D&K live at a show in Tulsa in the fall of 1981 and was impressed; the only better live show I've seen was Eric Clapton in Hartford in 1985.

I love this cd. Not one bad song. Favorites are God Good/Devil Bad, Dare 2B Different, and I use the J Word. Even though there are keyboards, it's not overdone. Top notch guitar album. Would recommend it to anyone who likes guitar rock.

I'm gonna take serious issue with other reviews of this CD. I, too, have seen D&K live (on the STREET LIGHT tour) and agree they do sound very good live and put on an impressive concert. However, we're not reviewing a live CD here...this is a studio effort and you have to take it on those terms.

I also have to completely disagree with a claim that they have ANY Deep Purple influence...at least on THIS release. Listen to the clips if you doubt me.

Now, on to my review. This CD was an attempt to return to a more rock-based sound following the poppier releases THE PLEDGE and GO TO THE TOP. They do succeed in putting the teeth back into the guitars, but unlike past successes ("War with the World","Boycott Hell","Life in the New Age","Competition") the songs don't stand as tall. Despite this, Christian radio rewarded the duo with 3 hits: #5 "Talk to Me", #6 "Soldiers of the Cross" and #9 "Never Look Back".

HIGHLIGHTS:
The ode to grace in "Selective Amnesia" churns along nicely, as does the title track, and a call for Christian accountability in "It's my Business". "Divine Embrace" is one of the better "light" tunes.

VALLEYS:
The list of musical sins on this one is fairly long. "God Good, Devil Bad" sums up every complaint anyone has ever made about Christian music being uncreative. It's no wonder this tune was parodied on the Swirling Eddies' "Sacred Cows" album. I just can't believe no one at the label said "Wait a minute, guys...". "Talk to me" is a snoozer. "I Use the J Word" makes dubious conclusions as to why they aren't aired on MTV (Is it REALLY because they have religious themes in their music...or because it's not up to snuff, hmm???) The vocal on "Fight Back" is outright bad.

BOTTOM LINE:
If you're a D&K completist, go ahead and pick it up. Otherwise, this one is really only bait for the incinerator.