Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shining moment from one of the better '80s hair metal bands, August 28, 2000
Every decade has its fads, but only one that really defines that decade. For the 1980s, it's hair metal. Of course, this is a derogatory term for any rock band that grew their hair long and played loud, aggressive, often sexist music. Only a few have stood the test of time, let alone continue their careers long after the craze comes to an end. One of these bands is Great White. In some ways, they fit the stereotype of an '80s hair metal band, but it's in what they don't that has caused them to soldier on today. Albums like 1987's ONCE BITTEN... and its sequel 1989's ...TWICE SHY are ones that don't get their due as the best of the era. Great White really could play and write music, contrary to the popular legend, and aside from Aerosmith, were the best at imitating Led Zeppelin. They even devoted an entire live album to it. In the footsteps of Zeppelin, Great White doesn't dress up their sound too much, creating a rough blend of blues and rock that doesn't contain any of the instruments to date it. While the entire album is a gem, the biggest highlights are, oddly enough, ballads like "The Angel Song" (lead singer Jack Russell actually does sound like Robert Plant), "She Only", and "House Of Broken Love". When a hair metal band did a love ballad, it often came off as sappy and mawkish. But Great White manages to sound sincere without being emasculated. But the one song that has come to define the band for all time is their cover of Ian Hunter's "Once Bitten Twice Shy". Because this song was a hit, and not an original Great White song, that is probably why the band has been dismissed as just another band of its era. However, it's amazing that a band can easily make a song they didn't write sound like their own, and that's not an easy thing to do. ...TWICE SHY only has 9 songs, which average about 5 minutes each, meaning a lot of attention is paid to musicianship. I think this was necessary to prove that Great White was a band that really knew how to play. Not always a fan of long space jams, I'm willing to make a sacrifice here. When grunge came to play in the '90s, many hair metal bands were without a country, and found themselves forced into early retirement. But Great White was a band that didn't and hasn't stopped working, no matter how less of a success they become as the years go on. While ...TWICE SHY may be their finest hour, Great White is a band that deserves a closer look. And when one does that, they'll see a hair metal band with as much brains as brawn.
|
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Underrated Band, September 27, 2003
Forget the huge and long hairs, the leather and make-up, the ridiculous look most heavy metal/hard rock bands strangely insist on having, Great White is one of the best rock bands to come in years.
Though they have been unfairly compared to Poison and Dokken, their sound, and although falling very much in the hard rock category, is quite original:
They are more accessible than Iron Maiden, more consistent than Molly Hatchet, more melodic than Counting Crows and certainly less commercial than Dokken and Poison. Their music has an edge, and is very powerful, very bluesy with extended guitar solos, and piano to enhance the melody and soften the harder edges, and yes the lead vocals is one of the best in the business.
Twice Shy was the first CD I bought of the band (on an intuition, and because I liked the cover!), and I was not disappointed at all. It is a good start to the band as it has a combination of good clean rock songs, bluesy songs and the standard must have ballad, though it is very well written( about Hollywood's fake promises) and not similar to the ballads of dozens rock group which are included for the sake of having a 'ballad'.
Not since the creative age of rock in 70s with bands like Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Led Zeppelin did a band give me so much listening satisfaction as Great White did..give it a go, listen to that power and excellent musicianship and you too will not be disappointed.
|
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Great White Album Ever!, March 18, 2000
By A Customer
Twice Shy is the absolute best of Great White and one of my favorite cds ever! Jack's vocals are amazing and so is the music. While keeping their traditional bluesy sound, Great White rocks harder then on any of their previous albums. This is a must have for heavy metal fans!
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
is Great White's 
