Customer Reviews

Wolf

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

 

 

Every once-in-a-blue-moon there emerges a rock album which exceeds all reasonable expectations and simply pile drives its way to the upper echelons of the rock elite - Trevor Rabin's Wolf is just such an album.

Press the play button and Wolf bursts into life with the exuberant and powerful Open Ended which mixes synth and guitar to epic effect. Next is the soaring and huge rock anthem Heard You Cry Wolf which leaves the listener breathless and possibly a little frightened. Wolf then gives us a chance to relax a while with some twists and turns that mix thoughtful blues and hard rock at various ratios before hitting right between the eyes again with the AC/DCesque (but pleasingly darker and more lupine) Looking For A Lady (Wolfman). The next notable track is Take Me To A Party which is a bouncy and likeable little slide guitar romp which was the one track from the album that was originally released as a single; albeit remixed - this CD's version of Take Me To A Party is, unfortunately, the remixed single rather than the original album track - it's not worse but it is different and I would have preferred the original. The penultimate track on the album, She's Easy, is (despite its somewhat inane lyrics) an absolute belter. She's Easy stalks and menaces its way to a climatic guitar solo which truly snarls and threatens to rip the flesh from your bones - marvellous !

In conclusion: there are a couple of filler tracks and the original Take Me To A Party should have been used in the album with the remixed single added at the end as a bonus track but these complaints are largely insignificant because when this album is good it's really excellent and there is enough assembled quality to merit 5 stars with ease. If you like rock music from the 60s/70s/80s era then you'll like this album. The three little pigs wouldn't have been safe in a Challenger tank with this wolf around. Highly recommended.

Wolf is a little more mature and polished than Rabin's first two solo albums. The songs are a little more structured and are influenced by rock albums of that time period (1981). The guitar playing is very transitional as well, with lots of experimentation. There is a lot of flash and some substance.

The 90124 album helps tie 'Wolf' and Rabin's early music in to the 'West Coast' Yes of the 1980's and early 1990's. This is also an interesting glimpse into the early work of legendary drummer Simon Phillips.

Listen to 'Looking for a Lady-(Wolfman)'. It's obvious where Van Halen got the beat and riff for "Hot For Teacher" from '1984' (released in 1983)!

The only thing I don't like about 'Wolf' is the sound quality. The drums are positively small. I am reminded of a quote from Rabins' guitar instructional video where he states why he got involved in production and engineering. 'I remember playing my guitar part and coming back into the control room for a listen and thinking "I thought it sounded a lot cooler than that when I played it"'. YEAH!

Recommendation: Buy Wolf if you're looking for some early Trevor Rabin. You'll probably like it better than the earlier self-titled album or 'Face To Face'. Definitely buy 1989's 'Can't Look Away' and the recent 'Live in LA'. Most of the soundtracks are good, too.

This cd is worth every cent if you are a Rabin fan.
Wolf shows off all of Trevor's talents as an artist.
He has a style all his own & this cd displays it well.
A must have for all Rabin fans!

I have had this cd for quite a while and this one is as good as his others as far as his solos go. I have followed Yes for years and there is a good reason they want him in the band. He's a very talented and versatile musican. If you've never heard him pick this up and I guarantee you'll want the rest.

My first contact with Trevor Rabin was hearing in 1990 the Cant't Look Away record, which is one of my favorites (in Peru is very hard to find this kind on music). Why I rank 4 stars to "Wolf"?, there are songs that are mayor hits (Open Ended, Pain, Heard you Cry Wolf) they have power, melody, virtuosism. In other words is rock and roll brillantly played and composed. I recomnd this, It is value is much more than a price.

Trevor Rabin's "Wolf" is a gem! Anyone who liked Trevor's first two releases are sure to be captivated by this record. Highlights include "Open Ended", "Looking For A Lady", and also the guitar solo "Wolfman". However, the record is not as mature in it's songwriting as is Trevor's last solo release "Can't Look Away".