Customer Reviews

Homerun

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

 

 

If you grew up in the early to mid 80's with bands like Journey, Foreigner, and REO Speedwagon, moved into the 90's with Bad English, Giant, and Nelson, and then had the rug pulled out from under you in the mid 90's when radio and MTV went "alternative" leaving us with nothing musically to get excited about, have I got a band for you! Massively popular in Europe, particularly in their native Switzerland where they rack up platinum albums like nobody's business, Gotthard is the best darned rock & roll band you've never heard.

Gotthard is at the forefront of a melodic rock revolution that has brought the classic 80's AOR sound into the 21st Century, refining it along the way so it doesn't sound dated. Gotthard, along with bands like Fair Warning, Harem Scarem, and Bonfire) understand that people don't necessarily want a brooding, melancholy, introspective artist every time they tune into an alleged rock station on the radio. They understand that a lot of us (to quote the mighty Dee Snider) just want to rock, and miss the kind of good time rock & roll we grew up with. And these bands have all been around since at least the early 90's, but mainstream radio decided that we were no longer interested in that sort of thing and instead gave us Silverchair and Marcy Playground.

Gotthard's 2001 album Homerun is probably the band's most accessible album, and is the ideal starting point for new listeners. You've basically got an album here with (once you get past the brief instrumental opener) 11 well-written melodic rock songs that in a perfect world would have all been massive radio hits. It takes all of one listen for you to be singing along, nodding your head, and drumming on the steering wheel (sometimes all three at once). It has great rock songs, laid back acoustic songs, and ballads that will win over even the most dedicated opponent of that type of song (including yours truly).

I realize this review will probably not be read by the people it was meant to reach, but I feel better for sharing the gospel of Gotthard. If by some chance you're looking at this page and haven't already heard the band, do yourself a favor and take a chance on Homerun. You won't regret it.

I own a few Gotthard albums and they are all extremely good. Gotthard is one of those bands that you really can rely on to deliver the goods time after time. I can easily recommend anything by these guys but this album is my personal favourite at the moment. The songwriting is great and the production is superb. As always I must mention the intense vocals of Steve Lee - he has got to be one of the greatest singers of all time. He delivers his vocals with so much passion that it makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck all the time! He is equally at home singing ballads or rockers and will impress even the harshest critics. Highly recommended to melodic rock fans!

Gotthard, a superstar melodic rock band from Switzerland made another outstanding album also one of the finest in 2001. Their last album "Open" in 1999 churned out excellent songs such as "Let It Rain", "Blackberry Ways", "Want You In" "Cheat & Hide" and "Peace Of Mind" which are no doubt highlights of their 10 year career. "Homerun" released in 2001 is another stellar living up to the album title "Homerun" and its title art cover image of "Boomerang". It is what "When Seconds Count" is to "Vital Signs" using my Survivor analogy.

Wun Ga-Li a short prelude having a boomerang sound at the beginning is followed by excellent rock anthem "Everything Can Change" American music fans may have been missing for years. Next track "Take It Easy" shows Power Station(sounding a bit like "Get It On") styled Europian rock. "Heaven" and "Lonely People" are great ballads that can easily become a huge radio hits. "Come Along", one of my favorites, is another case of addictive pop rock. And the title track Homerun wraps up the album flashing back past rock hits and those of their own at the last part.

Essential for 80's area rock fans that like Survivor, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, Two Fires and Giant. American release is desperately awaited. Also check Japan-exclusive ballad collection coming really soon.

"Homerun" es el quinto trabajo de estudio de estos Suizos, el más accesible hasta ese momento (2001), al igual que en la mayoría de sus grabaciones, es un disco bastante parejo, con buenas canciones, algunas baladas y medios tiempos, incluye también un cover de Andy Taylor "Take it Easy" de 1985 para dar un disco entretenido con buen sonido, y que sentaría las bases para el éxito mayor que les representaría el álbum "Lipservice" del 2005 con el cual han llegado a ser una de las principales bandas europeas gracias a su incansable ritmo de trabajo. En este disco aún toca el guitarrista Mandy Meyer (Krokus, Cobra, Asia, Katmandú, etc.)acompañando al siempre eficaz Leo Leoni.

En fin, otro gran disco de un grupo que nos trae de regreso lo mejor del Hard Rock melódico a este nuevo milenio que ya entra en su segunda década, y que nos sigue gustando a todos los que amamos los 80's.

Great,Great,Great!! What more can I say? If you like your rock straight ahead with great hooks,rockers as well as cool ballads-get this and their other latest discs (starting with 'G'). They started out as a 'hard/heavy rock' band on their first two releases. They've matured into one fine band!! Best described as a 'pop' version of Tesla ( tad smoother vocals,tho). Just plain & simplly excellent songwriting here! Try 'em-you'll LOVE 'em! Enjoy..