Customer Reviews

Once a Rocker Always a Rocker [CASSETTE]

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

 

 

This final release of "The Joe Perry Project" is the band's second-best effort. After the first album achieved Gold status and then the second album achieved less than Gold, Joe Perry completed reformed the whole project and recruited three new band members: Cowboy Mach Bell (vocals), Joe Pet (Drums) and Danny Hargrove (Bass). With this new line-up and the determination to climb back up to stardom with his band. Unfortunately, this album sold the least of the three albums and after the tour for this album, it was apparent that the Project was over.

One of the highlights of this album are Mach Bell's vocals. His voice sounds very similar to the early days of Motley Crue's Vince Neil on many occassions throughout the album. Going to the songs, there are about four songs out the ten that are absolute classics.

The opening title track, "Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker" is a short (just under 3 minutes) rock and roller. The lyrics are well written and Joe's guitar riffs are very bluesy and R&B based. The chorus is also semi-catchy. The next track, the album's best is, "Black Velvet Pants." The intro to this song is outstanding with Joe's guitar solo. The overall sound of this song leans mainly towards Country-Rock with powerful lyrics and a great riffs while the song moves at a country-western style pace. The story behind the music video for this song is that the model for video was Billy Montgomery, Joe Perry's wife-to-be a couple years later and who is still married to today. The next track, "Women In Chains" is an excellent song. The intro is the sound of rattling chains. Some of Bell's greatest vocals performances are resembled on this song. The lyrics are about how women are sometimes mistreated, unrespected or ignored. This is slow rocker and is a semi-ballad. This song is a high point of the album. Jumping to track nine, "Walk With Me Sally" is the album's second highest point next to "Black Velvet Pants." The song moves at a very fast pace and is excellently performed. Throughout the song there is an instrumental break where Bell continues with the lyrics at a fast pace and then the band begins to speed back in to carry on with the chorus. This song resembles some of Joe's best riffs throughout the album.

Overall, the album is good in general and those four tracks mentioned in this review are the highpoints that make the album the most noticable. I think Bell's vocals were very good all around but he ranks just under 1980s "Let the Music Do the Talkin" lead vocalist Ralph Mormon. For those of you that are looking to finish your Joe Perry collection, buy this album and you will like it. This complete's the Project! The Joe Perry Project gets an A+ for the strong effort and determination.

...but it's actually pretty good. Joe Perry rocks on this album and the drummer is amazing. They're new singer "Cowboy" Mach Bell sounds a lot like Vince Neil of Motley Crue. A few of the songs are a little cheesy but the guitar and drumming makes up for it.

Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker is a great Joe Perry Project album, like Let The Music Do The Talking (1st Album) and I've Got The Rock N Rolls Again (2nd Album). some may say that it's the worst JPP album but I think it's full of energy and great lyrics. Of course, Joe leaving Aerosmith wasn't a good thing but still, the JPP was good while it lasted. Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker is a great rock album that's worth buying!:)

This was a great addition to my Joe Perry Collection (which has been out of print for several years). There were a few disapointments: a new singer and they swear and talk about inapropriate material. If you get past this though on a track or two it is still a great cd.

Joe Perry kept inspired and creative, when he recorded this third Joe Perry Project's album. You can observe it through the songs. If You like Rock 'N' Roll this is a good tip: You have to buy it!!

The Joe Perry Project-Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker ***1/2

Of the three Joe Perry Project albums, this is the only one that dissapointed me. I mean it's not a bad album by any means, but it had the potential to be a incredible album and just didn't make it. The line up for this album is pretty good, though I've Got The Rock N' Rolls Again had a better line up. Danny Hangrove plays some pretty great bass grooves, and Joe Pet at times plays some great fills. Cowboy Mach Bell is well, he is decent most of the time, even sounding like Vince Neil of Motley Crue on 'King Of The Kings.' Joe Perry as always plays excellent. Some of the best playing of his career is on this album, it's too bad that the production is way less than stellar so at times his guitar fades into the background.

The songs over all are pretty good but nothing to write home about. The title and lead track, 'Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker' is one of the better songs on the album but not breathtaking. 'Crossfire' is a great song, and maybe the best here. 'Adrianna' is very early 1980's and boarders on corporate rock and is saved by Perry's excelent wah-wah solo. The cover is T-Rex's 'Bang A Gong' is pretty rad though. Not as good as the original but easily the best cover version of the song ever. The only song I am going to dare say is less then good, (because I wont call anything Joe Perry does bad) is 'Women In Chains.' With the title I assumed it was going to be about sex or something but it's quite the opposite, and not that Im condoning bondage or anything but the subject matter of the song is really annoying.

Overall it isn't a bad album, but it isn't a great album. For a Joe Perry fan it is a must have though. Hell even Aerosmith fans will enjoy this one. I recomend all his albums outside of Aerosmith, but if you want the very best of Perry outside 'Smith, then go with his selftitled album, and I've Got The Rock N' Roll Again.

I really can't give this album a solid 5 out of 5 rating b/c I really havn't listend to the whole album yet. But so far it's pretty cool and I truly mean it. So I say
YEAH!!! Ofcourse my copy of this album is cool b/c I have it on vinyl and you don't! Ha Ha Ha!!!