Customer Reviews

Mean Streak

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

 

 

The Good
There's no mistaking that the opening riff to "Mean Streak" represent the rock music scene of the early eighties. Vocalist Dave Meniketti delivers his trademark melodic yet husky vocals, reminiscent of Sammy Hagar & Ronnie Montrose. It should come as no surprise that Dave has collaborated with Ronnie many times. There's nothing flashy or fancy about "Straight Through the Heart," but it's still a killer rock track. More of that great Y & T vocal harmony returns for "Lonely Side of Town."The group chronicles their first-ever trip to Japan on "Midnight in Tokyo." Even though you'll want to get caught up in the lyrics, it's Meniketti's & Joey Alves' guitar work that really shine here.

"Hang `Em High" has Y & T crossing the line from AOR rockers, to heavy metal head bangers as they pump up the distortion, quicken up the riffs, and lay down some pounding drum beats. "Sentimental Fool" has a great pop-rock radio appeal to it, as the arrangement is not too complicated and the group gives it there all vocally. "Down and Dirty" is all about the power chord riffage. The bonus track "I'm Not Sorry" has a darker tone to it, but it still comes off melodic.

The Bad
Nothing notable

The Verdict
Mean Streak was a gateway album for Y & T. It helped the group finally get noticed by American audiences. It wasn't long after this one that Y & T really started cranking out some hits. Although it's not their strongest album, Mean Streak is still a great rock album by a great hard rock band. It's a good representation of the music scene at the time as well.

I don't own this CD but have heard every song on it and they are all great. Anyone who likes Y&T will love this one. I also highly recommend Black Tiger and Earth Shaker. The prices are too high but if you've got the cash it's well worth it for any of the Y&T CD's.5 stars

I've long said this album was one that would never leave my collection, and I still feel that way. But despite the fact it is one of Y&T's best albums, it's not their best.

Oh, it starts off like a rocket, certainly. "Mean Streak" is one of Y&T's signature songs, and is as strong a leadoff to an album as I can think of. "Straight Through The Heart," "Lonely Side Of Town" and "Midnight In Tokyo," for those owning the LP or cassette, completes a solid side of metal, while "Breaking Away" and "Hang 'Em High" start the second side with gusto.

The problem comes afterward. "Take Me To The Limit" has a powerful edge to it, but somehow leaves me wanting a little more. "Sentimental Fool," meanwhile, sounds as if it belongs on another album: I really didn't care for it. But "Down And Dirty" makes you almost forget the last two songs, and rounds out a very solid album perfectly.

"Mean Streak", despite it's very few flaws, is a Y&T classic, one of the best albums in my collection. I highly recommend it.

There are always mixed feelings when listening to a Y&T album. They often feature some nice tunes, good vocal harmonies, and attractive guitar work. But equally often, they resort to the pompous, boring stereotype sound we know and hate from a lot of US bands from this era. Moreover, Dave Meniketti's singing is quite ambitious but sometimes comes of as one-dimensional, it lacks variety and soulfulness.

This said, Mean Streak is probably the most enjoyable album from the Y&T 'metal' years. It features the Y&T trademark variation between up-tempo rockers, stomping hard rock and emotional power ballads and packs six good-to-great songs: Mean Streak (the best song on the album), Straight Thru The Heart, Lonely Side Of Town, Midnight In Tokyo, Hang 'Em High, and Sentimental Fool. The closest runner-up, the Black Tiger album, while containing bigger "hits", really has only four good songs (Open Fire, Don't wanna Lose, Forever, Black Tiger), the other albums under the Y&T name (I'm not familiar with their albums when they were still called Yesterday & Today) sadly have even less.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE Y&T ALBUM AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE BEST ONE.EVERY SINGLE SONG IS GREAT,CHECK OUT "LONELY SIDE OF TOWN",AND OF COURSE THE MORE POPULAR SONGS LIKE "MIDNIGHT IN TOKYO","MEANSTREAK","HANG EM HIGH",ETC.LEONARD HAZE REALLY SHINES ON HIS DRUM PERFORMANCE,ALSO GREAT RHYTHM GUITAR FROM JOEY ALVES.OF COURSE DAVE MENIKETTI AND PHIL KENNEMORE ARE ALSO GREAT AS USSUAL.AFTER LISTENING TO "CONTAGIOUS" I BECAME A FAN OF THIS BAND,AFTER LISTENING TO THIS ONE,I BECAME ADDICTED.Y&T IS ONE OF THE TOP 5 BEST BANDS EVER AND THIS ALBUM ENGRAVES IT IN STONE.

Every guy In the world has been dumped on once in his life. The worst is always the first ! Oh, yes that brings us to Mr. Meniketti. He'll help you through the tough times and tells it like it. Then lights that damn guitar on fire! T O N E.
His vocals are great and the guitar is full on rock n roll. His honest recordings of great songs that should have been on top of the charts, where filled with great hooks and wonderful melodys. A&M never was a power house rock label.
Y&T Where the best opening hard rock act ever and would blow the headliners away! they have also stayed true to form after all these years.Yes, i'm a little sentimental(i'm gettin'misty eyed)But Dave Had a way of puttin the girls in there place and get that 16 yr old testosterone goin'! Hell, I had a girl break up with me because I would drive around with Y&T blasting, and she thought it was rude! Ahhh, those where the days. Oink, Oink!

I love Y&T... Don't get me wrong. I always have, and I always will. Y&T never lets down for simple, "Hell Yeah!" rock and emotional power ballads. Killer guitar solos abound... But, if you can't get over the Movie Soundtrack aspects (Like Survivor in Rocky III or The Iron Eagle films, young guys and headphones rocking to win the day) then stay with their earlier stuff. But if that sound doesn't bother you, put on your ripped 501's, strap a bandanna around your head and jam to this great album. :)