2014 CD Reviews - Winger - Better Days Comin'

[TageRyche]

Winger

Better Days Comin'

Frontiers Records - 2014

http://www.wingertheband.com

 

With the album produced by front-man Kip Winger, Better Days Comin' is certainly crafted with an ear toward what the band wants to get out of their musical abilities. The album demonstrates that despite the well remembered bucket full of ridicule the band took during their heyday, they know how to craft some fast moving rockers that shine with energy and zest.

It is on the more rocking side of things that finds Winger acquitting themselves the best this time around. Songs like "Queen Babylon", "So Long China" and " Storm In Me" serve as the meat on the bones of the album.

Then you have tracks like "Tin Soldier," which opens with a keyboard/piano intro that eventually gives way to a pulsating, pounding rocker. While I am a huge fan of guitarist Reb Beach's playing, John Roth's solo on "Another Beautiful Day" helped set the high energy track apart quite nicely. The two guitarists end up trading off guitar solos on a track by track basis.

Unfortunately for the band, they still try to follow the formula of putting a couple of ballad type songs on the disc. While they did write a few nice songs on their first go-round, the two ballads on Better Days Comin' leave a LOT to be desired. "Be Who You Are Now" is pure dreck that calls out for rock bands to be banned from writing love songs. As for "Ever Wonder", the song could serve as the theme music for your next proctologist appointment because after the key/synth opening intro, the song is ass-numbingly boring.

The closing track "Out of this World" is the slow grower on the disc. The first time I listened to the song I was unimpressed but upon listening a few more times I found that the song was way better than my first impression.

Despite my disdain for those two ballads mentioned above, there are a few tracks on the album that really blew me away.

The Kip Winger/Reb Beach written title track features a mid-tempo groove that gives off a slightly funk-driven vibe at times. Winger's voice seems to have aged well - maturing and deepening. The shading on vocals during the main lyrical course make the entire song an intriguing and entertaining enterprise.

Winger and Beach teamed up with songwriter Donnie Purnell for "Midnight Driver of a Love Machine" and "Rat Race". While the former sounds like they titled the song after the most popular words in 80's rock song titles, the song is actually fantastic.

The use of natural, real world sounds at the open and close of the song aren't really necessary, but still come off as a nice touch. Kicking off with a feeling of restraint, as if it is just waiting to explode, when the gears shift, the fast rocking guitar lines lay waste to your ears. Winger's vocals feature a throatier sound than you might normally expect to hear. Meanwhile, Reb Beach just blows you away on the solo. Plus, how can you not like a song that includes the lyric "she runs on sex and gasoline"?

Drummer Rod Morgenstein particularly shines on the all-out attacking and aggressive "Rat Race". The song is so balls out, it almost sounds like another band, and the opening guitar riff is phenomenal. I think it might just be one of the best Winger songs period. You can see the video for this song below.

I've liked Winger since their first album was released and never understood how they got so much crap just because Kip Winger became the poster boy sex symbol of 80's rock. Their early material wasn't always perfect, but the musicianship and songwriting was very much in evidence.

The same can be said for Better Days Comin;' it is a very good album that while not perfect offers up some fantastic material. It is a bit depressing that the ballads are so gawd-awful, but setting those aside, you won't be disappointed to find the rocking flag of Winger is fully unfurled here.

[Scott]

I get that you and RJ are big fans of this band.  I am not, but not because they aren't worthy musicians or a tight band, but mostly because the song writing isn't interesting to me and the vocals are so-so.  Furthermore, its now become a moral imperative to include this picture of Stewart in all Winger posts because that's how I remember them best..

Still, a nice read from a talented reviewer!  Keep up the good work...

[TageRyche]

Thanks for the feedback Scott, even though you don't like the band.

[Jon]

Nice review, Tagemeister! I like this album, not as much as their previous one, but better than the one before that one. It's people like other posters that give the band such a bad rep. They need to be dealt with accordingly. 

[Scott]

[RJhog (Admin)]

Enjoyed that review.  It's almost spot on.  This album as a whole has grown on me.  I didn't care for the title track at first, but now I like it.  I'd bump it up to 4 out of 5 stars.