Customer Reviews

Springhead Motorshark

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

 

 

After a 12-year hiatus, Britny Fox is back and better than ever! As a long time fan, I eagerly awaited this album after seeing the announcment on the Britny Fox website. The album starts out heavy with "Pain" a down and dirty tune you would not expect from this band. There are ten more tracks of the good stuff mixed in with a couple obligatory ballads. Even these though are moving and well played. There are some unnecessary studio tricks, but this is an otherwise solid disc. And, there are three videos from the Long Way to Live release. I am definitely glad I added this one to my collection.

The Band: Billy Childs (bass), Johnny Dee (drums), Michael Kelly Smith (guitars & percussion), and Tommy Paris (vocals, keys, & guitars).

Man. Well, it's been a while for the boys to release a new studio record, but here we are. Before I step any further into this review, let it be known that if the sole reason you enjoyed Britny Fox's music in the past was because of Dizzy Dean Davidson, avoid this cd. Paris has been with the band as singer and rhythm guitarist since 1990/1991. Get over it. 'Bite Down Hard' was Fox's third record and their first with new vocalist Tommy Paris.

Gone with Britny Fox's first new album in twelve years are the 80's production sounds. This is not a heavily reverberated album (i.e. 'Boys In Heat' or Def Leppard's 'Hysteria'). While I love the sounds of past Fox cds, I must say that I appreciate how 'Springhead Motorshark' was executed by the boys. Unlike Dokken's 'Shadowlife', BF hasn't sold out to "the times" They are not desperately trying to fit into the new music scene like half of the OTHER 80's rock bands. So what are we left with? A good hard rock effort that is perhaps a bit too spotty in some areas. Out of the 11 tracks featured on 'Springhead Motorshark', I'd have to say that seven of them are very good leaving the rest a little "iffy". For example, "Sri Lanka" is one of the more undesirable tracks on the album. It could have used a lot more bite than it did (pardon the pun). A hard rock song should be a hard rock song. The added percussion on this track is unnecessary and bland. Some real heavy metal drumming on Dee's behalf would have been appreciated.

The spotlights: "Coup D'etat", the guitar solo which leads directly into the fantastic hard rocking "Far Enough". This tune blends melody perfectly with rock. "Pain" is a good lead-off number that harks back closest to the 'Bite Down Hard' days of all the tracks on 'Springhead Motorshark'. And "L.A.". Ah, L.A. Hmmmmm... What a beautiful song. Parises' keyboard playing and soaring vocals on this one really send it flying. Dee's drumming is tasteful and Michael Kelly Smith's soulful guitar playing is always a plus. That said, "Far Enough" and "L.A." alone are worth the purchase of the cd.

This cd is for: Fans of good, unadulterated, hard rock with no compromises. For people who appreciate talent. For those who enjoyed 'Bite Down Hard' in '91. For fans who loved the 80's music but can still appreciate different sounds of rock bands that they were once familiar with.

In conclusion: Dizzy Dean, we all love ya and we miss you. But Britny Fox is doing fine these days. The Philly boys have reunited once again and have treated us to a satisfying piece of rock 'n' roll history. I can't wait to hear more from BF in the near future.

I have been a Britny Fox fan for years. When I found out they had a new CD out I immediately bought it. After all if you like bands like them you have to support them to make sure they keep recording new material. The sound goes from pure metal to a more 70's classic rock sound. A more refined and matured sound which is understandable considering all the years which have passed. The CD is good the first time you hear it, but once you listen to it for the 3rd or 4th time and you "get it", it really grows on you and it goes from good to "kick @ss". It has become one of my favorites and I have yet to tire of it.

I was very glad to hear Britny's new CD. No trend hopping here.
Just hard rocking kick ass songs. My only complaint is the CD is too short. Maybe 2 or 3 more songs in the style of 'Pain' & 'Freaktown'. I say this because being a B.F. fan since the beginning, waiting 12 years for a new album sucked! Anyway dont pass this up!

There's no question that if you are into 80's metal, the latest releases from some of these bands are just bad. However, this album is completely different and is, by far, the best of the latest releases. The album is smooth from start to finish, from the opening track Pain to Sri Lanka. My personal favorite, Far Enough is just a perfect track and plays in the traditional Fox style. Even more important, you can tell the band put their heart and soul into this album. For that fact, I gave it two stars. Add to the fact that the music is great and add two more stars to give it four. One problem is that some might be thrown off by the diversity of the album. For that, I can only say, it isn't for everybody. But remember, trying is buying, and after trying, you'll most definitely buy.

I had no idea this was coming out. I was totally surprised when I found and bought it. "Bite Down Hard" is one of my all time favorite albums, and I'll always think that Tommy Paris is a better singer than orignal Fox vocalist, "Dizzy" Dean Davidson. That said, I couldn't wait to hear from this band for the first time in 12 years! The result? Not bad. Not "Bite Down Hard," but a good effort after a 12 year break. This disc starts off great with "Pain." A good, heavy track that could have fit on BDH. The rest range from very decent to somewhat iffy. The song writing is often lackluster and repetitive, and Paris doesn't belt out the tunes as he should. He's either muffled for some reason or joined in harmonies. But the Britny Fox sound is there, and for the most part, so are their hearts. And now that they have practice, let's not wait another 12 years before releasing another disc!

Let me say first that Britny Fox is my fav Hair band of all time. I loved their first 2 discs, but their 3rd disc, Bite Down Hard, is my all time favorite metal CD. With that said, I picked up this disc with high expectations, and am disapointed at how bad it is.

The production first off, is not past BF. Its like cleaned up Limp Bizkit wanna be. Very clean, and very very soft, almost like Metallicas new album St. Anger. You all have heard that song (St. Anger) , and something is missing production wise from it, well here on BF new album, its missing too.

Add that to 9 songs that are completely GHEY. I mean I was expecting this CD to rock, and it does not. Most of it is cheesy ballads, with some acustic crap, and even some ,middle eastern refrences thrown in. Hey BRITNY FOX!!!! YOUR A GLAM METAL BAND!!! PLAY SOME METAL!!!!! I feel this Cd was rushed through, and that the band had run out of material after Bite Down Hard, and they need to cut out the cheesy frekin ballads. This CD has like 4 or 5 ballads on it, and that is like 4 too many. That might have worked for the 16 year old teens from 1989 but here I am , 33years old male, and it aint workin for me.

I do still love BF but this CD is a load of garbage, and I would advise you to download it before you buy it. Then you can be a little more informed than I was. I read all the great reviews here (amazon), and sounds like the band and some of its friends wrote them. Well they got me, I believed them, went out and bought it, and now I am 14.99 in the hole. Hey BF!!! I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!!! AVOID THIS CD IF YOU LOVE OLD SCHOOL BRITNY FOX.

I was not expecting to much when I bought this cd. Gone is the big gang vocals of the late 80's/early 90's. Insted what you get here is very refreshing and very mature but yet heavier Britny Fox. "Pain" (Very heavy & driving) could be a hit if radio would pick it up as would "Freaktown"(Scorpions/Schenker style) "Is It Real?", & "T.L.U.C. (For You)". Vocalist Tommy Paris has an amazing voice and is an incredible songwriter and Michael Kelly Smith shines on this album. His songwriting is above average. This could possibly be their best work to date. If you loved Britny before you will love this record. No grunge, no glam, no bull. Straight ahead hard rock for 2003. Don't let this one pass you by. Buy it now!

Yes, I said it. I loved Britny Fox's 2nd CD. Not as much their first and third cds. This one ranks up there as possibly their best. The sound has not changed as much as some of these reviews make it out to be (both from people who love it and hate it), as I felt very comfortable upon the first listen, no surprises..yes some musical growth...but a familiar overall sound. I hope these guys stick together to make more music, because they really have it down.

After a way-too long absence, Britny Fox roars back with a matured sound that still rocks out and takes no prisoners. Fans of singer Tommy Paris who have his solo album, TP2009, will undoubtedly hear his influence on Springhead Motorshark. This new cd boldly meshes the roaring Les Pauls/Marshalls with keyboards/synths, and this formula works!
From the traditional in-your-face opening tune "Pain", the 70s/Elton John-styled "L.A.", the downright nasty riffing of title track "Springhead Motorshark", the soaring harmonies on "Far Enough", to the ending opus "Sri Lanka", the cd is a perfect step in the band's musical evolution.
Thanks Britny Fox for keeping the musical flame burning, and see you out on the road soon!