Customer Reviews

Rock & Roll Strategy

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

 

 

The only reason this disc even got 2 stars is because of Donnie's contributions to the disc.

If you like sensitive 80's pop, I'd say that this may be a good CD.

If it's southern rock you're looking for, with the exception of a few redeeming tracks that Donnie has, this is best left out of your collection!

My rating is based on what the band was originally (and again, in the last few years) about.

I didn't yet notice Don Barnes was not with the band. As a pure pop rock fan, however, I really enjoyed this album. With the vocal change the album sounded a bit like REO Speedwagon and Air Supply combined. Unless you are devoted fans of Don Barnes I am sure you will enjoy this album. The album sounds fresh with new vocal and the fact their greatest hit so far Second Chance(which became #6 in Billbord chart)came from this album must not be overlooked. Other recommendation include Midnight Magic, Love Strikes and Little Sheba which might have become great hits. Recommended for wide range of pop rock fans.

Max Carl (Gronenthal) is the best siner along with Richard Page. Buy the album. Beautiful stuff.

First of all, I don't know why people bash this album, calling it a "pop" album. Sure, it's a little slower and less edgy than previous albums, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a "pop" album. It features the hit single SECOND CHANCE, which is a pop song. The rest of the album features some pretty good rockers, such as LITTLE SHEBA, HOT'LANTA, and COMIN' DOWN TONIGHT. Another cool but slower song is MIDNIGHT MAGIC. I was pleasantly surprised at the musicianship with these tunes; they're not of "filler" caliber. What I really can't believe is that this album came out 23 years ago. I can't believe how fast time has flown by; I remember this album debuting like it was yesterday. One last comment: I think that Donnie Van Zant is easily the best vocalist in the Van Zant family, followed by Ronnie, then Johnny. Donnie was blessed with the best pipes.....that's just my opinion.

This album by 38 Special might not be thier hard-driven 'Joe Dirt' rock but it does have some gems. I enjoy the story of 'Little Sheba' but my favorite is 'Midnight Magic'. 'Love Strikes' is a good one too. This CD is inexpensive so give it a try. My favorite 'Special album will always be 'Tour De Force' but this is a great 'bargin bin' value.

If you look at this as a typical 38 special southern rock album you'll prob be disappointed/However look at this as a new bands first cd and You'll be more apt to enjoy it.With Don Barnes gone Max Carl sings a lot of leads and the sound is definately different but still has the Jeff Carlisi guitar sound and rocks but just in a different way/Like it or not you gotta give em credit for not being like 99% of bands do when they lose the lead singer and get the closest soundalike they can and stick with the same sound just tryin to copycat and recapture their classic sound.

"Rock & Roll Strategy" es el primer álbum de la banda sin el estupendo cantante y guitarrista Don Barnes y fué grabado en 1988, siendo un gran seguidor de este grupo, debo confesar que en el momento en que adquirí el álbum no conocía su cambio de formación, que sólo era evidente por la fotografía de su portada (Entran Max Carl (voz y teclados) y Danny Chauncey (guitarras) por Don Barnes y Steve Brookins (Con esto perdiendo su clásico sonido con 2 baterías), este disco representa el regreso de Rodney Mills a la producción, lo cual habla de un cambio de estilo pero buscando conservar sus raíces, que en mi opinión dió un muy buen trabajo, que es cierto a los seguidores más conservadores del grupo no agradó mucho, no se puede dejar de reconocer que es en verdad una buena colección llena de canciones excelentes como "Love Strikes", "Midnight Magic", su principal sencillo "Second Chance", "Little Sheba" y "Hot ¨Lanta", por citar algunas y aún cuando la guitarra de Jeff Carlisi está menos presente en los temas no deja de hacer notar su presencia.
En mi opinión un trabajo diferente pero a la altura de sus anteriores, que tomando en cuenta el año de su lanzamiento hace notar su calidad, y debido a la gran cantidad y variedad de buenos discos que aparecieron el mismo año, resulta difícil sobresalir.
No podemos dejar pasar ésto por alto, si sólo recordamos lanzamientos como el ("OU812" de Van Halen, Hysteria de Def Leppard en su apogeo al igual del "Appetite for Destruction" de Guns and Roses y "Operation Mindcrime" de Queensryche por citar algunos), así podremos entender la importancia por grabar buena música en tiempos en que las ventas de discos estaban en el infinito. No me queda más que agradecer el poder haber estado ahí para accesar a tantos y grandes artistas en un momento en que la industria musical vivió abundancia y calidad.
.38 Special siguieron siendo tan buenos como antes y este cambio de estilo lo demuestra.

Does not sound like the trademark sound of .38 Special or Southern Rock. I can't even give this 2 stars after listening to some of the GREAT albums and songs they did prior to this smarmy pop fiasco.

Up until this point, the band had always stayed true to their guitar roots. Even if their songs had an "80's" feel to them, they were always guitar rock at their core. Not anymore. With the departure of Don Barnes, and the arrival of Max Carl on Keyboards, their trademark sound was gone. Gone was Barnes's strong guitar and vocals. In was Carl's cheesy, even wimpy, keyboards. I'll give him his due, he is not a bad singer, but he has no edge, no attitude. Simply put, he is not a rocker. Jeff Carlisi and Donnie Van Zant are the only reason this gets 2 stars. Otherwise, it's a 1 star effort. They just didn't sound like 38 Special anymore. They became a pop band. Ronnie was rolling in his grave over this one. How could his brother be a part of something like this?

Don't waste your money. This album is cheesy, sounds like a million other pop rock songs, and is nothing compared to their earlier work. With Donnie Van Zant and Max Carl on vocals, all I have to say is: they need the old lead singer back! The guitar work is ok, but the classic .38 Special sound has definitely been lost.