Classic Rock Bottom

232 L/F albums ago, I posted the second offering from Alcatrazz, "Disturbing The Peace", but it cannot be found on this here site. It was posted on another site, a site that shall remain nameless. 

I firmly believe that 232 posts between albums from the same artist is enough elapsed time so as not to cause any artist burnout (unless it's The Smithereens, of course). It's a shame that you can't compare their second album to this one, unless you have the second album. Then you can. All others are out of luck. 

Of course there's the first album, featuring Yngwie Malmsteen, but I could never get into it. The second, featuring Steve Vai, is more my style.

So, what about the third which doesn't feature Yngwie or Steve? Let's check out the review from allmusic.com:

"After taking it in the teeth from two of the '80s greatest young guitar heroes, Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai (both of whom performed on but one Alcatrazz album each, before abandoning ship for greater solo glory), vocalist Graham Bonnett decided to anchor 1986's Dangerous Games to a slightly less gifted, but much better traveled guitar wiz in the plainly named Danny Johnson (ex-Rick Derringer, Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper, Blackfoot, etc.). Unfortunately, ironically, and through no fault of Johnson's, just when Bonnett regained control of his own group, Alcatrazz wound up delivering their least distinctive album; more consistent, perhaps, than the previous year's idiosyncratic but frankly song-challenged Disturbing the Peace (Steve Vai defined), but also "safer" and utterly subservient to the 1980s' soulless mainstream rock conventions. Rare highlights such as "Ohayo Tokyo," "Only One Woman" (actually a re-recorded tune from Bonnett's first name band, Marbles), and the title track still saw the singer's passionate delivery rising victorious above the generalized, over-produced blandness (further exacerbated by that synthetic cleanliness and punched-in drums typically used throughout rock's "lost decade"). But, more often than not, utterly faceless fare like "It's My Life" and "That Ain't Nothin'" found Bonnett wallowing in a trough of mechanized AOR alongside his dispirited and long-suffering bandmates: bassist Gary Shea, drummer Jan Uvena, and, most tragically of all, keyboardist Jimmy Waldo, wasting all of that classical training on synthesized sequences a machine could have handled (sorry, Mrs. Waldo). And, for his part, though he certainly had chops to spare, Johnson only contributed truly scintillating solos to "Undercover," "Blue Boar," and the aforementioned "Ohayo Tokyo" (where he does his best Brian May impression) -- probably reflecting his selfless sideman's discipline, rather than lack of inspiration. At the end of the day, though, inspiration was exactly what Dangerous Games lacked most, as it ushered Alcatrazz towards their ignominious demise in a desperate state of (no doubt record company-assisted) formulaic coma, sounding nothing like the same band responsible for 1983's monumental No Parole from Rock'n'Roll."

Yep. It's basically another album that screams "SELLOUT!". There are a few good moments on the album, but compared to the previous album, it's a huge disappointment. Who knows, maybe you'll think differently. 

Dangerous Games

1. It's My Life
2. Undercover
3. That Ain't Nothin'
4. No Imagination
5. Ohayo Tokyo
6. Dangerous Games
7. Blue Boar
8. Only One Woman
9. The Witchwood
10. Double Man
11. Night of the Shooting Star

Availability: Around $11 used for the version that features nine bonus live tracks.

Views: 71

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Bonnet was brilliant on MSG's Assault Attack, also I had no issue with him on Rainbows Down To Earth, but there are some silly songs this band put on video that kept me away from them.

To open with an Animal cover is gutsy, and they did a pretty nice job of it IMO - it did set an expectation though, and from reading your liner notes, I've been setup for disappointment... and it doesn't take any longer than the chorus of the next track, undercover, keyboard heavy and monotone.  Where is the voice? He sounds so backed off, no rock, no hint of any MSG, Rainbow influence...  Pop rock at its most generic.

Track 3 - another period piece, found my mind wandering off even though its a vocal improvement over the previous track. And the aptly titled "No Imagination" continues the downward spiral... Ohayo Tokyo actually sounds like he's singing Ohio Toke-yo - probably because they are pronounced the same, but it just silly.  Were sinking Jon, and its not good... 

Assuming Side Two opens with the track Dangerous Games, well then, owners probably flipped it once and never listened to it again.  The two "ballads" are droners, slower than ballads and far more boring than anything else on this albums.  This is the very definition of Lost and Forgotten and so as owner of forum of the same name you are to be commended!  A fine post and fine level set of why some of these release are better left...  Lost and Forgotten.

The first song is typical of the mid-80's scene...cheesy as hell.  I like the second track.  It has a Men At Work feel vocally.  Cool song.  The next two tracks carry forward with the cheese.  Ohayo Tokyo is different.  I actually like this one.  The title track, although a bit cheesy, is not bad.  The following track has a good verse, but a terrible chorus.  

The ballad "Only One Woman" might be better with a better vocal performance.  This vocal is just irritating.  Next song is a ballad too.  It's a little bit better.  Double Man is neck and neck with Undercover for the best track on the album.  The vocal, when it is really high, sounds like Glen Hughes.  I'm really not sure what that last track was.

I can't see myself getting into this, but it was enjoyable enough for one listen.

RSS

Question Of The Week

CRB Features (Click photo to visit)

Birthdays

There are no birthdays today

CRB Staff Members

 

In Memory Of

Norma Jean Fox
(11/30/1945-9/7/2010)

Photos

  • Add Photos
  • View All

Videos

  • Add Videos
  • View All

Badge

Loading…

© 2024   Created by RJhog (Admin).   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service