Search - Alannah Myles :: Alannah Myles

Rich C. (jeepjeep) from SUMMERVILLE, SC
Reviewed on 1/7/2007...

Even though Black Velvet was the only single she had this cd will Rock this joint

Alannah, Where Are You ?... We (I) Miss You

Armando M. Mesa | Chandler, AZ | 08/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I sure miss the mature, rockin' talented women of the 70's, 80's to late 80's ( Heart and Pat Benatar specifically).These gals could belt out with the vocals and their wild feminine charms without ever becoming sugar coated caricatures of pop music...Then,Myles shows up to prove that they still existed towards the closing of the 80's.After Alannah's explosive chart topping album from '89 it seemed she was destined for more success.After the Black Velvet hit, she released a couple of lesser well known and harshly critiqued albums...Alannah Myles debut, containing Black Velvet ,showcased her as a sexy rock n' roll siren with sultry throaty vocals without coming across as dry sandpaper but rather smooth silk. There were no filler tracks or songs penned at the last minute. Each song, while collectively they worked together, had it's own unique flavor..."

Black Velvet,? if you please

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 02/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With a hard rock bluesy guitar that later isn't a bad imitation of early ZZ Top, and a rousing cry in that rough voice of hers, kind of a more refined variation on Joan Jett, Alannah Myles kicks off her debut album with "Still Got This Thing For You."That's followed by the second single, "Love Is", which is punctuated by a throbbing bass and a 80's hard-rock guitar. Here's how she defines love: "Love is ( love is )/Heaven to the lonely/Show me/What you want me to do/Cause love is/What I got for you"The slow bluesy "Black Velvet", with more of that punctuated bass, is of course, hands down, the best song here, and the one that topped the charts in 1990. Who can forget that chorus: "Black velvet and that little boy's smile/Black velvet with that slow southern style/A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees/Black velvet if you please." There's another lyric that's visually cool: "The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky." However, don't let naysayers tell you she was a one-hit wonder. There's more great stuff on this album and on her followup, the more melancholy Rockinghorse."Rock This Joint" is the hardest rocking song here even replete with Def Leppard-like backup vocals. There is a slight nod to "Pour Some Sugar On Me" while that ZZ Top-like guitar plays. She wants to rock the joint to the point that, "I wanna die with a smile on my face."That is followed by the first ballad and third single, "Lover Of Mine" which deserved a place in the Top Ten at the very least. Her voice when smooth, shows she has slow-song talents. The chorus and guitar at the end puts shifts into minor power ballad mode.The mid-paced "Kick Start My Heart" has shades of New Jersey-era Bon Jovi, specifically "Bad Medicine" down to the synthesizer, horns, and guitar. Not to be confused with the Motley Crue song of the same period, of course.The engaging "If You Want To" has a rhythm reminiscent of Rod Stewart's "Hot Legs" but again plays with the Bon Jovi sound and hard-edged guitar."Who Loves You" is the other ballad here, mellow in the verses with Ann Wilson vocals before launching into her hard-edged guitar in the chorus. The blues ditty "Hurry Make Love" urges her lover to do the title act instead of watching TV.Smoky, hard-edged, bluesy, gentle in ballads, Alannah Myles' eponymous debut deserves revisiting for unique tough and tender female vocalists. Alannah Myles,... if you please."