Customer Reviews

Mane Attraction

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I mention White Lion, their talented guitar player Vito Bratta or singer Mike Tramp, I hear from many people why they broke up and what they are doing now. I hope that this will be some help those of you WL fans who are wondering what happened to Vito Bratta, Mike Tramp, James Lomenzo and Greg D'Angelo.

But first let me say a few words about Mane Attraction, the band's (unfortunately!) last record released on Atlantic in 1991. After the somewhat unsuccessful Big Game, the band's songwriting duo Vito and Mike locked themselves up for a whole year and started writing the album. Because Big Game was released at a time when the band was really tired of having toured non-stop for over a year, and the band was severely criticised by critics, they took a year off and wrote Mane Attraction with full concentration. They shut their ears to their label about writing 'hit songs' to be released as singles and even wrote the heavy "Lights & Thunder" out of spite as an opening track. "Lights & Thunder" clocked in at over 8+ minutes with a long and beautiful instrumental section from guitarist Vito Bratta with Tramp's lyrics on social events as opposed to happy party songs. This was followed by "Warsong" inspired by the Gulf War and depicting a veteran's return to his hometown from war. Both songs were extremely heavy compared to the songs in WL's back catalog with dark lyrics, sharp guitar solos and fat bass lines. Rumour has it that Vito used a drum machine writing this album and drummer Greg D'Angelo, who at the time was on bad terms with the band, barely recorded his parts.

Shortly after the release of the album bassist Lomenzo and drummer D'Angelo left the band to be replaced by Tony Caradonna (Alice Cooper, Lita Ford) and Jimmy DeGrasso (Y&T, Megadeth). The band played Europe and America with new members handling the rhythm section.

The biggest difference of Mane Attraction and the first three WL albums is that the songs on this album are more focused, more fortright, and the production is relatively more polished due to new producer Richie Zito. The re-recorded version of "Broken Heart" (which was the first song Vito and Mike ever wrote) sounds absolutely terrific especially when the solo kicks in. It's impossible not to tell how much Vito has progressed as a guitarist since 1984's Fight To Survive.

"Blue Monday" is one of the best instrumental songs that I've ever heard, played in memory of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, who happened to be one of Vito's favourite guitarists. The melodic section after the bluesy intro still gives me chills after all these years. "Out with the Boys" lyrically deals with losing a loved one and has a sad vibe to it without getting too cheesy, and "Leave Me Alone" is about the generation gap between parents and children and features one of D'Angelo's best drumming ever. "Till Death Do Us Part" and "You're All I Need" are the power ballads on the record by many chosen as their wedding songs, especially the former.

"Farewell To You" closes the album with its meaningful lyrics bringing to mind if Vito and Mike knew that Mane Attraction was going to be their last album together.

After the break-up of the band, everyone went their own way. Vocalist Mike Tramp went to form a new band called Freak of Nature releasing two studio albums plus a CD of outtakes before the band disbanded. He then started doing solo albums and has released three records along with a Remembering White Lion album without the original WL members.

Guitarist and main songwriter Vito Bratta played on CPR (Coven, Pitrelli, Reilly) in 1992 along with other guitar virtuoses such as Steve Morse and Zakk Wylde, and tried to form a new band remaining on Atlantic Records. But as the grunge wave came, his project never got off the ground.

Drummer Greg D'Angelo played with LA Blues Authority and on a Motorhead album and finally became a sound engineer. Bassist Lomenzo's career continued as he joined Zakk Wylde's band Pride & Glory and then former Guns N' Roses axeman Slash's Snakepit. He also contributed to Tramp's debut solo album Capricorn in 1997 and toured with David Lee Roth recently.

White Lion was a great band and terribly underrated compared to their contemporaries. Vito Bratta is easily the most overlooked songwriter/guitarist of the 80's. It's no wonder he's so bitter with the music industry; I hope to see him return one day, even though it looks unlikely at this time.

This album surprised me. It's White Lion, but at a much different level. They are more than just a riff and rock pop metal band that their first two albums showed that they were (though their second album "Pride" is by far, I think, their best overall work).

The opener "Lights and Thunder" is a good song with rips and riffs throughout, and a very rapid beat. Great song. The remake of a song they released on their "Fight To Survive" album called "Broken Heart" is symbolic of the sound you'll hear throughout the album: and that is a more mature, more sophisticated sound than their previous works. Tracks three and four keep the fast beat alive, but oddly do a nice job to set the stage for the beautiful power ballad "You're All I Need." The following song, "It's Over" is a great transition song to go from the guitar-ridden ballad to track 7, "Warsong," in which the bassist James Lomenzo gets a chance to really strut his stuff.

Moving on from the drum- and bass-heavy "Warsong," the album introduces us to three songs that remind a fan of White Lion's "Big Game" album. They seem to flow so well in transition from one to another that they ALMOST sound like one long song with three different parts-- but just almost. The listener will easily be able to distinguish, and will probably wonder why there aren't more of that style of song on the album.

"Blue Monday" is a nice instrumental, dedicated to Stevie Ray Vaughn, and a nice break to the ears from the four hard tracks that precede it. But it also gears you up for the final track "Farewell To You," which is a nice, rockin' closing track and has a melancholy "farewell" tone just beneath the surface. "Farewell To You" lyrics are explictly about a romance that's ended for the singer, but I can't help but wonder if he wrote the lyrics as an official goodbye to the FANS, and not so much his girlfriend.

For me, I caught an overall sense of bittersweet, slightly-melancholy emotion in this album from start to finish, and the strong theme of "goodbye" seems to permeate the entire album. Even the track titles reflect this.

Another thing a Lion fan will catch from this album is not only a mix of "Pride" and "Big Game," but a true sense of what White Lion sounded like live in their heyday.

I've enjoyed this album so many times over that all I can say is that I do not believe you'll be disappointed with the twelve bucks spent on this album-- and then you'll want their other stuff!

White Lion: Gone, but most certainly not forgotten.

what can i say besides vito is an under-rated genious. just listen to blue monday and you'll see what i mean. come back vito we all miss you!!!!!!!!!!

I've been interested in Modern Rock/Electronix more than HR/HM, because I'm too young to belong to the generation of Heavy Metal in the 1980's. Well, a few years ago I accidentally listened to "Main Attraction" CD. When I listened to the song "Love Don't Come Easy" at first, I was so surprised of the compelling pop sense.

As a matter of fact, I used to get a little stereotype that "LA Metal or the other sorts of Metal stuff is all ...[junk]". But this album is not clumsy or cheap but absolutely riveting. This album is full of the gorgeous and introspective Hard Rock numbers(especially "Broken Heart" "Till Death to Us Part", "Farewell to You" are superawesome!).

Even though "Main Attraction" was wrapped up with a commercial disappointment, I think this is the best album of White Lion.

1991's Mane Attraction was the fourth album from melodic rockers White Lion, coming on the heels of the successful (but terribly uneven) Big Game. I had issues with Big Game (for every great song there was one that was equally bad), but Mane Attraction is the band's best overall album since Pride.

Mane Attraction is far more consistent than Big Game. There's almost no filler on this album. Unfortunately there are no real standouts either. It lacks the truly memorable songs that Big Game had to offer. As good as Mane Attraction's songs are, there's nothing at the same level as Cry for Freedom or Little Fighter on this album. Broken Heart comes close, but that's not really a new song, having appeared previously on the band's debut album Fight to Survive.

Unfortunately Mane Attraction didn't bring the band much success. Maybe it was the lack of a great single. Whatever the reason, the band members soon parted ways. Mike Tramp has kept the White Lion name active, but just not the same, especially without Vito Bratta.

I grew up listening to White Lion and especially this album. Even today this album conjures up brilliant visions and deep emotions. I guess the difference between those who adore White Lion and those who don't boils down to whether you feel their music. No doubt, they were not the best band around in the 80's. But, they made some beautiful music and that counts! Very few of the 'so called' great bands left such a lasting impression or had the feel of White Lion's melodies.

OK, the title is about as contrived and cheesy as possible, but the album is really good.

I guess I've become one of those old farts that says, "Back in my day, music had more melody and you could understand the words." But, jeez, how true is that? Back in the 80's, bands like White Lion were a little cheesy, but at least they could play. This band (and especially Vito Bratta) was truly underrated and unfortunately got lumped in with some of the disposable hair metal fluff of the 80's. It's too bad these guys aren't around anymore.

I used this CD for my wedding with the song till death do us part. It's the best wedding song

MANE ATTRACTION, White Lion's final studio album, is also its best. Most of the songs are top-drawer, and the highlights are better than the best songs on their previous albums. Many are about starting over in the aftermath of difficult times, even if it means leaving behind what you once held dear. The fact that lead singer Mike Tramp, unlike many of the so-called "hair band" singers, advocates sanctions against Indonesia in retaliation for that country's trumped-up drug-smuggling conviction of a young Australian tourist makes this CD a great purchase for both your ears AND your conscience.

White Lion is simply one of the best groups, that crossed and roked over this planet. Mane Attraction is for me the best album they ever released. Full of emotions, the ideal CD for a moment of relaxation, and a dinner with your partner.