Customer Reviews

Into The Fire

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

 

 

"Into the Fire" (what's the deal with fire and Russ? Hopefully he's not a pyro)Russ Ballard's fifth solo album sounds of its time--there's a strong "new wave" rock influence to the album. That's not a bad thing it just reflects what OTHER artist were doing at the time integrated with Ballard's own style (hey, it's a good thing to be topical--it makes it more likely you'll sell albums).

Luckily, the songs on the album are strong enough to make the album memorable and it does recall a time when rock music was returning to its roots but with some strong hooks embedded nicely in the 10 songs featured here. The highlights are "Breakdown" (not to be confused with Tom Petty's classic song) which rips along at in 4/4 time.

"Where Do We Go From Here" is about as good a power ballad as was produced during the 1980's and I'm surprised that it didn't catch on later in the late 80's when power ballads found renewed interest.

3 1/2 stars.

The album benefits from the sympathetic support of Ballard's backing band the Barnet Dogs (including former Argent drummer Bob Henrit who eventually succeeded Mick Avory as The Kinks drummer reuniting Henrit with Jim Rodford who had played with Henrit in Argent). It sounds like Henrit is playing to a click track which wouldn't surprise me given the time and it's a pity that he just wasn't cut loose).

"Don't Go to Soho" and "Guilty" are among the weaker and more formulaic tracks on the album. Ultimately, this is a good but not great album from Ballard who had demonstrated a remarkable ability as the other songwriter in Argent and Unit 4+2.

"Into The Fire" isn't Ballard's best album nor is it a great album but it is a FUN album with some strong songwriting, hooks, killer guitar playing by Ballard (an underrated player)

When I bought this album, I didn't realize that it was also another release that Russ did with "the Barnett Dogs". It becomes obvious that they are on here when you listen to it. Personally it sounds like Russ and the guys had too little artistic, and maybe also productive input on this one, mainly because the tracks have a sketchy sound and it is not as smooth as the other fine releases.

Having said that, it is still a fine album... songs like "Breakdown" which scored a hit for Russ, as wll as "Where Do We Go From Here", and "here Come's The Hurt" stand out as very good quality songs that serve as the standardbearers here.

My advise? get this album while you can, with the fickle public and the state of the economy, here is something that is enduring. Who knows when it will go out of print again, so don't take the chance!

Into The Fire is typical Russ Ballard - half an album of great stuff, and half an album of mediocrity. Don't get me wrong, I am a long time Russ Ballard fan, and he is the most unheralded songwriter of the Rock Era. I mean, this is the guy who penned "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You" My problem is that for every two albums, you get one album's worth of great songs - but at his best he is so good that I would buy his albums for just one song.