Customer Reviews

The Lou Gramm Band

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Last year when I heard Lou Gramm was working on a new Christian album, I could hardly wait to hear it! I was pleasantly surprised that Amazon had it available for download before the actual CD came out. Gramm has been through the wringer health-wise but his voice sounds fantastic! All of the songs on this album have a great message! As a Foreigner fan, I loved the songs "Made to be Broken" and "Baptized by Fire" the best. The worshipful "So Great" gave me goosebumps. "You Saved Me" has such a tender melody and lyrics that it makes me cry every time I play it. I'm just thrilled with this whole album.

Realizing that this isn't the '70's or '80's anymore, and it isn't Foreinger either,
It's The Lou Gramm Band!
Being a Sound Tech, I judge music by it's quality of content, musicianship, and overall vocal performance, and it's ability to move you, to make you feel good.
It's either good or bad, and The Lou Gramm CD is good! (GR8 to me)

You can't compare Lou to his old days, or when he was in Foreinger, for those days are passed.
What you can compare is if he's still got it, and the answer is...yes!
This CD might not please everyone because it is Christian Rock, which makes no never mind to me, for I am a Christian as well as a Rocker, but rock this does, so when I heard this CD, it just made my day!
To hear Lou Gramm singing his own album, his own music again and Praising God as well, was well worth the wait...and it has been a wait.
I am a Foreinger fan and have Lou's two solo and Shadow King CD's and have been following him thru the years till now, waiting for this moment...and it has finally arrived...Yeah!

Lou Gramm Band CD might not win any grammies, but that's not why I listen to music.
I do hope it gets some air time, whether on Christian radio stations or secular. One thing is certain, It will definatley be getting air time on my system, that's for sure!
Lou Gramm Band CD is such a fresh new prospective, especially for Christian Rock, and Lou's voice is still kicking (we all know he's been thru quite allot and he's older now)
I just got the chills when I popped it into the CD player and started listening.
Give it a chance, a real chance..sorry if you're not into Christian Rock, but if you are a "REAL" Lou Gramm fan, then you won't be disappointed.
I sure wasn't. Very satisfied.
WAY TO GO..Lou! Rock On Dude!

I am a Lou Gramm fan - have been since the 70's. I love Foreigner, Shawow King, and Lou's solo LP's. I ordered this CD based on his name alone - that's how good I think he is. I didn't know anything about the CD, the band members, or the songs. When I received the CD from Amazon yesterday, I just about exploded with joy when I heard the lyrics. What a surprise! I did not know that Lou is a follower of Christ. I am so excited about this! I'm excited for him AND for me. I love music, but there aren't many "Christian" artists that inspire me.

I guess my only complaint about the CD is the production. I'm super picky when it comes to production, mixing, and engineering. I'm not a professional, but I do have some experience with it. I'd love to get my hands on the masters and remix this CD. I think it has the potential to sound better.

Thanks for the great CD Lou. I hope there are many more to come!

When Lou Gramm sings "I've Got A Heart That's Made To Broken" he ain't joking. On his new Christian album, Gramm sings will all the energy of a man reborn through adversity. And for those of you who don't know, Gramm was diagnosed with a very large benign brain tumor following his work with Christian band Petra back in 1997. Ironically, Lou complained of "Double Vision". The surgery took hours to complete, but was "successful" in that it kept Gramm alive. But the brain is a delicate organ and Gramm's metabolism changed, and his vocals were never quite the same. He was arguably in the top 5 best rock vocalists of all time prior to the operation. Lou came out of it and continued on with Foreigner for a while. There is a full orchestra version of "I Wanna Know What Love Is" on youtube that made me cry as I watched Lou strain for the notes of "I've Known Heartache and Pain". My guess is Lou's new found faith didn't jive with his Foreigner band mates. And from Foreigner's perspective, Lou didn't sound that much like Lou anymore. But since then Lou has regained some of his ability to hit notes, with a much more gravelly delivery. A few years back he hit the County Fair circuit with his new band consisting of members from his early days with Black Sheep. Lou sounds confident enough to have made this record. His faith is obviously taken center stage and made this a labor of Love. "Heart That's Made To Be Broken" is a winner sounding like vintage 1980's Gramm, atleast musically speaking. "Redeemer" talks directly about Lou's new views on God, priorities and life. "Willing To Forgive" is a nice AC track with lots of great harmony vocals. "That's The Way God Planned It" is an oath of trust for God's providence, and a nice ballad as well."Baptized By Fire" is my favorite track on this collection since it sounds as much like old Lou as anything here, and has a great hook. This veteran outfit can compose material right up there with the new Foreigner lineup. "I Wanna Testify" is a great rocker that could have appeared on any Lou solo outing. "Rattle Yer Bones" has that famous big hook guitar lead that has marked Lou's career. The album closes with the incredibly dramatic and powerful "You Saved Me". Bob Carlisle couldn't have written a better power ballad. The Lou Gramm Band teaches us that life is about more than touring the casinos looking to recapture the youthful admiration of adoring female fans. No, this album is about faith, hope, love and determination. It's musically more muscular than anything coming from the Christian music scene. Lyrically it's as honest and penetrating as anything coming from that genre as well. Lou is giving thanks for his second chance. For his gift to play and perform. He's also giving us all a lesson in real Christian living. Well done Lou.

To start, I've been a huge Foreigner and Lou Gramm fan since the beginning and have followed him and the band throughout their 30+ years. I've also seen Lou in concert, post-surgery, many times. Yes, his voice has obviously changed and the "wiry energy" is not there... BUT... he has adapted his voice to the old recordings and pounds out the new -- and still knows how to rock!

Onto the CD: let me reiterate -- it rocks! The best way I can describe it is that it has elements of Lou solo, Foreigner, Shadowking, and Blacksheep. Anyone who states that "they don't know it's Lou" is way off base. Somewhat deeper voice and not hitting notes in the stratosphere, but unmistakably Lou. It's a Christian CD and the message of God is clear, but make no mistake, the edge is there and "the attitude" that made Lou's vocals stand out is also there.

Let's move on beyond the vocals. First off - I do not own a single Christian CD - ok. The lyrics are sincere and moving and I'm so happy that Lou's flair for writing a great song has come back. The orchestration and background vocals are wonderful, and in many cases, superb! Dig into this CD and absorb all of its elements. You will love it!

BTW, I really like it ;-)

This is an album which grows by each listening. The songs are for the most part melodious rockers in the style known from Lou Gramm's previous solo projects. The christian lyrics suit the strong melodies very well. This is not Foreigner's "4", but it's still far beyond most of what's out these days. Few rockers at Lou's age can match his voice, still after his brain surgery.

But WHY is the best song "It's not too late" only found on the european album edition? Buy the CD and download (legally of course) the european bonus track, and (at least) the summer is saved.

PS: If you like this CD, you should also consider Don Mancuso's album D:Drive. Don Mancuso plays guitar in The Lou Gramm Band, and Lou Gramm also sings on parts of Don's CD - also a great album(though not christian).

Lou Gramm's New CD Delivers A Powerful Message

The long awaited return of one of Rock's greatest voices is finally over. Lou Gramm the legendary singer who's career of hit songs span over thirty years has just released his newest CD titled `The Lou Gramm Band'. It's a different departure for Lou because it's his first step into the world of Christian Rock. If this CD is any indication of which way he should move then this was a step in the right direction. The music stays true to Lou's heart and his messages inside stay true to his soul. Fans that have followed his career will be very pleased with this CD and he's sure to make new ones in the Christian community. The band consists of some of the best musicians out there today including Don Mancuso on Guitar, Andy Knoll On Keyboards, Ben Gramm on Drums, Richard Gramm on Bass and the legend himself Lou Gramm on vocals.
"Made To Be Broken" is a hard rocking song driven by amazing guitar riffs, wonderful keyboard play and excellent melodies. It's a story about someone fighting with the inner struggles of everyday life. It tells the tale of that person asking for guidance to get them to the right path.
"Reedemer" is a Blues song with a lot of keyboards in it. There's a nice guitar solo both electric and acoustic halfway through this song. It tells a story about someone that is giving advice based on their own circumstances. Once you hear the song you'll find yourself singing the title over and over again because the hook is so mesmerizing.
"Willing To Forgive" is a song that begins with amazing acoustic guitar work to wake up your senses. Then Lou's legendary voice kicks in and away you go. The chorus is amazing and you'll be singing right along with Lou and the guys. The music makes you think of sunny days sitting by the lake and just enjoying life. It tells the tale of someone who has made mistakes and is thankful for forgiveness.
"Baptised By Fire" is a hard rocking song showcasing Lou's amazing vocal styling that should be cranked all the way up. It's a song that can and should be played on today's radio. The guitar riffs, pounding drums, keyboard play and overall energy grabs a hold of you and won't let go.
"So Great" is another energetic song that once again showcases Lou's hard rocking voice. The music features more amazing guitar work done masterfully by Don Mancuso. The chorus is catchy as well as hypnotic. It also features the Heavenly voices of Lou's children reciting a prayer. The title says it all.
"Single Vision" is a true example of why Lou has made so many hits using his God given talents. His voice brings a smile to your face while you're listening to the chorus and wonderful lyrics of this song. The song sends a message to everyone that we need to become one with our brothers and our sisters. It also asks the question when did we stop giving thanks back to our creator.
"You Saved Me" is easily the most romantic and enchanting song on this CD. Lou's voice echo's throughout each line giving you a little taste into his soul. His voice has never been stronger and the message he is sending is crystal clear. The music is again well done and adds a beautiful element to this gem. Thank you for this song.

By John J. Ruppert 6-9-2009

To all those who've said that Lou Gramm is NOT the Lou Gramm of Foreigner days, you've missed the point! Health issues aside, Lou's voice would have changed over the decades, and he would likely have sounded probably about where he now is; which is to say AMAZING!!! I bought the album based upon the clips I had heard on Amazon, was more than impressed, and figured I'd show support for his gallant fight by getting the CD.

Upon listening to the album straight through for the first time, I was positively blown away! His voice was strong, clear, and supremely emotional, maybe more so than when he was younger. And as far as the "God-themed" nature of the album, that's fine with me. I found nothing overwhelmingly "religious" or self-serving about the album. The songs, two of which ("I Wanna Testify" and "That's The Way God Planned It") were popular hits for other artists decades ago, long before Lou Gramm recorded them for this album, are simply songs sung by a man who has been through some serious health problems, and who has found a measure of peace and comfort via a strong belief in God. I'm Jewish, and yet the supposedly "Christian" slant of the album was not the least bit "touchy" for me, as the message of the album goes far beyond any particular religion. A man at peace after trials and tribulations, knowing that there is someone, or something, "out there", watching over him and giving him the strength to go on. Powerful and inspirational stuff indeed!

So, put aside any misgivings about buying the album, regardless of your religious persuasion. Lou Gramm is a rock and roll guy, and this album SMOKES!!! Glad to have you back Lou! Be healthy and stay strong. Today's version of Foreigner can only dream of putting together an album like this.

LOU GRAMM IS PROBABLY THE MOST UNDERRATED VOCALIST IN ROCK HISTORY. HE IS A SINGER'S SINGER. EVER NOTICE HOW FEW PEOPLE CAN COVER FOREIGNER OR SHADOW KING SONGS ON YOUTUBE? THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFICULT SONGS TO SING AS HE DOES, REQUIRING EXTREME RANGE, POWER AND SKILL. BEST KNOWN FOR SUCH HITS AS "HOT BLOODED", "WAITNG FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU" "HEAVEN ON OUR SIDE" (GOD, THAT WAS A VOCAL MASTERPIECE!)AND "JUKE BOX HERO" GRAMM SWITCHES GEARS AND PUTS OUT A REALLY WELL CONSTRUCTED CHRISTIAN ROCK CD THAT'S UNMISTAKEABLY LOU GRAMM. SURE, HE SINGS IN A SLIGHTY LOWER KEY THESE DAYS, BUT FOR A GUY THAT HAS BOUNCED BACK FROM A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE HE SOUNDS AWESOME.

IN PARTICULAR, I ENJOYED HIS VERSION OF THE 1967 HIT BY THE PARLIAMENTS CALLED "TESTIFY." OTHER SONGS ARE SUNG WITH STRENGH, EMOTION AND PASSION ALL GRAMM HALLMARKS. ALL I CAN SAY IF YOU ENJOYED GRAMM WITH FOREIGNER, YOU'LL REALLY ENJOY THIS CD.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR ANOTHER LOU.

I have always been a big fan of Lou Gramm either solo or with Foreigner so i was looking forward to this album.
It has all the rockin you expect but with a faith twist to it that i didn't expect, He is able to pull it off and i really recommend this album.I'm sure he was influenced by the major health problems he's had.I hope he is doing well by the way!
Joe P.
From PA