" Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury. I would like to start by entering into the record Exhibit A, the inside photograph from the CD Power to Spare from Heavy Metal band Visionary. At the center of said picture is a blender, from which protrude pieces of Vinyl and Tape, the idea being conveyed, as I am sure you can guess, is that the band is blending together elements of their favorite albums."
"This in itself is not a crime by any means, but the band has cunningly placed around the blender all of the albums in question, the LP's of the bands they are so obviously inspired by, and herein lies the true horror. Ladies and Gentlemen examine the picture, bottom right we have Kiss, the least of the evils we will encounter. At the top we have Journey and Styx. Feel free to check your watches and calendars Ladies and Gentlemen, we have not fallen through any time warp, this is still the start of a new Millenium. Now we shall delve deeper, so I ask those with weak musical constitutions to steel themselves."
"Next we have MSG, yes you heard me right, MSG! The Michael Schenker Group, to those of you who never encountered the man and his guitar, I shall spare the details, let it only be said that any person whose signature track is 'Mad Axeman' and who had such phenomenal success in Japan and Korea that I truly began to wonder if Lucifer was Asian, should not be so readily referenced by anyone."
"Rounding up the suspects are The Scorpions, who brought to America in the early 1990's just what it needed, skinny, balding Eastern Europeans who whistled. Last we have Rush, a band whose Singers voice is so irritating that it breaks seven separate articles of the Geneva Convention."
"In finishing my opening argument, I ask that you not be unduly harsh upon the Defendants, but are harsh enough to make them realize that this can be allowed to continue, that society has a right to expect to be protected from lyrics such as 'We went out drinking in a black stretch Lincoln'. The 1980's are over and wearing a black leather jacket with brown suede tassels is no longer an option. I now place you in the hands of the poor schmuck…erm I mean the learned counsel for the defense."
I will quit with my court analogy, but I have hopefully made my point. This is actually a decently produced album, performed by competent musicians and a singer with an exceptional voice, but and it is a huge but (stop making your own jokes!), you can not produce a record that totally ignores the past ten years. If you want to be inspired by this music, then it is a free world, but at least acknowledge what and where you actually are.
That said if you are someone who bought an album in the last five years by any of the previously mentioned artists (I exclude MSG who I am sure have not sold a single copy since the stroke of midnight Jan 1st 1990), then stop giving money to bands who already have enough to cover their subscription to Hair Club for Men, and instead buy this album. Support new bad music, let the old stuff die. Oh and I meant it about that jacket.
One footnote, their website includes a quote from the non-legendary former front man of Enuff z 'nuff, Chip Z 'nuff. This finally allows me to tell my related story. Early 1990's I am visiting some friends in the University of Glamorgan in Wales. My friend, and fine Bass player, Mr. Geriant Roberts decides in his drunkenness to go and attempt to chat up a very heavily made-up blonde wearing fishnets and not a lot else. He tries his witty lines, and quotes Bertrand Russell, but to no effect. Then after he has walked away dejectedly she comes up to me and whispers, "Tell your friend he is out of his league". "Oh", I reply "why is he out of his league". She draws in a breath and pushes out her breasts and says "Look, I have slept with Chip Z 'nuff".
She went off secure in her groupie mind that she had the moral high ground, I spent the next seven years waiting for a chance to recount that story. For that at least I would like to thank Visionary.

Band Website | Contact Band | Give Us Feedback on Review