Search - Alannah Myles :: Rockinghorse

This is an album instead of a kiss--from Alannah

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 02/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alannah Myles returns with a somewhat darker and grimmer-toned album. Yes, the familiar bluesy-hard rock is still present, but she's expanded her talents and the songs are better."Our World Our Times" is a grim night in the city track, somewhat reminding me of the Cult's "Witch" in theme. Alannah recites the first couple of songs in a monologue before the familiar bluesy-hard rock guitar riffs that characterized her debut album kicks in with intensity matching the harshness of the urban life. One line seems in tune with the current climate: "These times are like dynamite a head-on with history/Some fool's bound to burn it all down don't care about you and me.""Make Me Happy" has a tempo akin to Def Leppard's "Woman", a Leppardish sound, and with some funky overtones. Love that bass in the song's intro."Sonny Say You Will," a plea for an unforgettable moment that will last forever, is one of the two killer ballads here, opening with a sun-coming up synthesizer. It blares into power ballad mode in the verse before the chorus, where it quiets down. One of my favourite songs."Tumbleweed" is back to that chugging blues-rock that's in the same manner as "Still Got This Thing For You" from her previous album. It's about a man gambling on dice who could be either a tumbleweed or a rolling stone. With Alannah singing "Looks like I'll be driving home tonight", guess what happens to him?The blues guitar on the lazy "Livin' On A Memory" sets the tone and is another urban night life song on crime: "Hiding from the light/Running from my destiny/Haunted by a flame/Lying low livin' on a memory."My favourite song here begins with some forlorn and tragic strings, which is later accompanied by acoustic guitar. "Song Instead Of A Kiss" is "to all of you who wait so long and need so much." That this didn't become a single is sheer criminality, as there's a universal appeal in this song. This is even better than "Black Velvet."The mid-paced "Love In The Big Town" is yet another night life song, but in a smaller setting. The alienation, glitter, false smiles and people wanting money are still there. It's like a slowed down version of "Kick Start My Heart."The flight of a troubadour who was looking for some piece of mind, wanting to fly instead of holding on to shaky ground is the story behind "The Last Time I Saw William." Clearly he was burned out from "hurtin' songs", what with that "long line of loneliness in the corner of his eye.""Lies and Rumours" sounds like Bon Jovi, or a variation of "Love Is" and "Kick Start." The intense skiffle-blues of the title track closes the album.Most of the songs were written by Christopher Ward and David Tyson, and the selection was well-chosen. Why this album hit the bargain bin after a year I don't know, as it deserved way better."

Favorite All-Time Album

CPT Terry Rogers | FPO, AA United States | 08/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have purchased copies of this Album/CD's in the Clearance rack just to give to my friends. Not only did I like this album better than her first one, I thought it was the best complete album of songs by any artist in the last 20 years. Unfortunately her next two albums really fell off in the quality of material, but this set would be included in any collection I would choose for a long stay on a deserted island. Try it!"

Magic touch that rocks all over.

Kurt Olav Helle | Lonevåg, Osteroy Norway | 04/20/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Alannah Myles is something special. Here voice is mysterious and carismatic. This is "sword and sorscery" rock & roll. Track 1 Our world our time in it`s light form with it`s "heavy metal" inspired riffs certainly kicks this "middel age" inspired melody right into your soul. Trembling good rock and roll with devilish dark vocal from Alannah Myles. Track 2 Make me happy is more in the "funky blues" territory". Anyway it`s screamin`good , with it`s very steady,ready,go go beat. Track 3 Sonny say you will it`s the quality ballad on the CD. Here vocal is very disciplined on this one, but here "hurting quality vocal" shines all over. Make you shakin` when you listen to it.

Track 4 Tumbelweed is straight rock & roll . Straight forward ,but it swings and shakes in quality directions all trough.

Track 5 Livin on a memory sounds like early Bon Jovi, but when Allanha Myles starts to sing, she put`s here unique vision on it, and makes it here own. Track 6 Song instead of a Kiss is the symphonic track on the CD. It doesn`t grip me.

It`s a stream of cliches, and Myles voice is too "polished" and it doesn`t fit here at all. The weak one, this track. Track 7 Love in the big town, we are back in the "light heavy metal landscape" and it works ok, but nothing special. Track 8 The last time i saw William is the "pop song" on the CD. It`s "humming"and simpel. It doesn`t have any extraordinary qualitys. Track 9 Lies and Rumours is back in business with it`s light heavy metal touch, and effective guitar riffs puts inbetween here and there. An effective refrain on the melody. Track 10 Rockinhorse is the one that realy goes back to the "blues roots" with a very effective finger picking acoustic guitar play that lifts this one above average. Allanha Myles is one of the few female vocal`s that has a "magic touch" that rocks all over. In other words "she`s got it"."