Customer Reviews

Prime Time

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

OK, so here we are with Firehouse's 6th studio release. You really have to give credit to these classic 80s bands that still manage to produce decent albums well into the 21st century. Some albums are better than others, and I must admit to being a bit disappointed with 'O2'. So what we really want to know is is this a return to the form and energy of Firehouse's first 2 albums? Cause let's be honest, that's what most of us have been hoping for and what this CD supposedly is according to other reviews.

In a nutshell, the answer is yes and no. They have made a jolly good effort, and credit is due here, but it is a bit of a hit and miss album.

First the good news. There are a few gems on this album. `Crash' and `Door to door' are classic Firehouse all out rockers. `Door to door' features Michael Foster on vocals and he does a very good job. This track also features some outstanding guitar soloing from Bill which you will not be able to help play air guitar to! The standout track on the album is `Perfect Lie'. With it's heavy intro, great lyrics, emotion and catchy melodic chorus, this song ranks as one of Firehouse's best songs ever. `Body language' and `Take me away' are above average.

Now for the bad news. There are too many average tracks. The first and title track is the band trying to sound funky and modern (similar to a few tracks on `O2') which just does not suit the band. The chorus just does not have any `kick' to it for it to even hope of comparing to the openers of previous albums like `Rock on the radio', `Reach for the sky', or `Can't stop the pain'. The 2 tracks with Bill on vocals (`Holding on' and `I'm the one') are rather dull and disappointing, which is a shame as his song on 'O2' was pretty good. The singing should definitely be left to CJ next time. The one ballad at the end `Let go' shows much promise with it's emotional intro, but the chorus sounds a bit like a nursery rhyme which is a real shame.

So overall, this is a decent effort and better than 'O2', but could have been so much better. They have captured the sound of their heyday, but only on a few tracks. If you are an established Firehouse fan like me, I'd say this is a must have album as the 3 or 4 great tracks really are fantastic. If you are a newcomer, the first 2 albums are a better bet.

Often times I don't know what to expect from a rock act that enjoyed success in years gone by. The need and desire to feel contemporary often leads to just plain poor albums. See Metallica's "St. Anger." There is $20 I'll never get back. But, I knew what to expect from Firehouse. A solid hard rock album.

And that's what Prime Time is!

I picked up Prime Time through the band's official merchandise section on their website and received it the day it was released internationally. I threw it in the stereo and cranked it up to make sure I hear it the way it is intended.

From Prime Time to Let Go, I was legitimately impressed. They made no efforts to sound alternative, boring, or rap. The three elements that most bands thrive for today producing the very worst era in rock history. They sound like the Firehouse I know and love. And I do love!

Some songs to check out are Let Go, which is perhaps the best ballad I've heard in at least a few years. Crash, which has a definite AC/DC vibe. Door to Door, which is both a good song chorus wise and a fantastic guitar jam. Home Tonight, which is very "old school" Firehouse sounding. I'm the One, a pure blues rock tune. Holding On, pure melody. and Perfect Lies, my personal favorite song off the album. Metal riffs mixed with Foreigner sound. Way cool!

So, if you get past the fact that the hair is a little shorter, the music is still rock and roll. It's frightening to me that an album that is both heavy but stays true to a melody is now called "Melodic Rock." I mean, shouldn't all songs have a melody? Isn't that part of what makes it a song? It annoys me that this album gets next to no air play. It is a hundred times better than the pure unadulterated crap that is on the radio today. All I can hope is that the rumors of a rock revolution are true. Firehouse belong at the top of the list of bands to enjoy that revolution!

If you like real rock and roll or are or ever have considered yourself a Firehouse fan, pick up the album either through their site or through Amazon. Whatever price you pay, it's well worth it!

This continues on the Firehouse legacy. Another top studio CD from a great hard rock band. These guys have never stopped (unlike many of their other contemporaries) and there is good reason why. This is some solid music and a great live band.

I must admit that I am guilty of generalizing this entire genre of music as being mostly "cosmetic" with little musical content to justify its popularity. What I heard on Firehouse's Prime Time has really changed my thinking. Extremely well crafted vocal leads with tight harmonies and skillful guitar features all weave together to provide strong melodic and rhythmic development; something painfully lacking in today's pop hits. The band's creative braintrust; Bill Leverty, really has a talent for writing and performing. I sincerely enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.

I am a die hard Firehouse fan and find this addition to their collection disappointing...the worst yet. If you truly love all their prior efforts, you might find this one very sad as I did. More misses than hits to me. "Perfect Lie", IMO, is the best song on this album period. Just let CJ Snare sing all the songs next time guys....

I'm a fan of the band Firehouse. I have all of their albums. I must say that the Prime Time album isn't worth anyone spending $25 when you could buy the album at a used cd store for $10 or less. The album had some good songs but I was let down by the album in general.

You thought Firehouse was just one of those early '90s pop metal bands, just holding onto hard rock and trying to milk it for all its worth before the world went grunge. Everyone remembers "Love of a Lifetime" and "All She Wrote". Man, those were great songs. You probably thought that Firehouse might've had another album or two before fading off into obscurity. Well, guess what? They never went away. Firehouse has been putting out the hits every since their first album and they just won't quit. Every album is greater than the last one. Many fans were disappointed by "Catagory 5" for its departure from the tried-and-true formula, but that was just the band stretching their legs in other musical avenues. Following the release of a hard-rockin' "O-2", here comes "Prime Time" and it's going to slam you in the face. The really found their roots again with this album and they sound like they're having a blast. Guitarist Bill Leverty even lends lead vocals to several tracks. The sound quality, performance, and production are top-notch. CJ Snare still hits every high note, just like back in the good ol' days. Drummer Michael Foster hasn't lost a beat in the years since the band formed. He hits 'em HARD. If you are a fan of any pop metal act from the late '80s or early '90s, this is the pinnacle of all they strived for - rockin' guitars, screamin' high vocals, pounding drums, thundering bass, a little bit of emotion, and a whole lot of fun. BUY IT TODAY.

Often times I don't know what to expect from a rock act that enjoyed success in years gone by. The need and desire to feel contemporary often leads to just plain poor albums. See Metallica's "St. Anger." There is $20 I'll never get back. But, I knew what to expect from Firehouse. A solid hard rock album.

And that's what Prime Time is!

I picked up Prime Time through the band's official merchandise section on their website and received it the day it was released internationally. I threw it in the stereo and cranked it up to make sure I hear it the way it is intended.

From Prime Time to Let Go, I was legitimately impressed. They made no efforts to sound alternative, boring, or rap. The three elements that most bands thrive for today producing the very worst era in rock history. They sound like the Firehouse I know and love. And I do love!

Some songs to check out are Let Go, which is perhaps the best ballad I've heard in at least a few years. Crash, which has a definite AC/DC vibe. Door to Door, which is both a good song chorus wise and a fantastic guitar jam. Home Tonight, which is very "old school" Firehouse sounding. I'm the One, a pure blues rock tune. Holding On, pure melody. and Perfect Lies, my personal favorite song off the album. Metal riffs mixed with Foreigner sound. Way cool!

So, if you get past the fact that the hair is a little shorter, the music is still rock and roll. It's frightening to me that an album that is both heavy but stays true to a melody is now called "Melodic Rock." I mean, shouldn't all songs have a melody? Isn't that part of what makes it a song? It annoys me that this album gets next to no air play. It is a hundred times better than the pure unadulterated crap that is on the radio today. All I can hope is that the rumors of a rock revolution are true. Firehouse belong at the top of the list of bands to enjoy that revolution!

If you like real rock and roll or are or ever have considered yourself a Firehouse fan, pick up the album either through their site or through Amazon. Whatever price you pay, it's well worth it!

As an avid Firehouse fan, out of all the albums that I have ever bought, PRIMETIME by far is their best!
from the opening title song to their last Let It Go, I can't describe in words how awesome this whole cd is!
My favorite songs on this cd are:
1. DOOR TO DOOR - which is their song about NASCAR, and racing on Sunday,Drummer Michael Foster sings this song. Now if NASCAR would replace METALLICA'S "FUEL" with Door to Door that would be great!
2. PERFECT LIE 3. CRASH 4. PRIME TIME 5. HOME TONIGHT.. Actually there is not a BAD song at all on this cd. This is totally worth buying, and you can also find it at WWW.FIREHOUSEMUSIC.COM

In my opinion, I think that this is their heaviest cd they have ever made. It has that 'dark' feel to it, but still has the rock feel to it. They still have the classic 'harmony' thing going, although not as much as their other cds. I definitely give this cd a 5 stars!

I think that this is really a cool album by the band to have in your collection if your a big fan of the bands music,all the songs sound really cool.