Search - Bulletboys :: Za-Za

Overlooked album and band

russianimp | Colorado | 06/10/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"By the time this album was released, musical tastes had drastically changed. Za-Za, was completely overlooked even by people who were previously fans of the band. This is unfortunate, because this was the best album to date by the band. Nice ballads and blues driven rockers were fairly typical of the band, but their lyrics had matured and their already impressive music talents had done the same. "When Pigs Fly", "For The Damned" and "Laughing With The Dead" stand out just as much as any of the group's hits from the previous two albums. In my opinion, there were even hints of the so called nu-metal sound that exists today. I'm not sure if Godsmack or Disturbed ever heard this album, but I'm sure this band and/or bands like it influenced the music we hear today. If you're a fan of metal, buy this album and see for yourself."

Overlooked hard rock gem

R. Gorham | 04/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THE BAND: Marq Torien (vocals), Mick Sweda (guitars), Lonnie Vencent (bass), Jimmy D'Anda (drums & percussion).



THE DISC: (1993) 11 tracks clocking in approximately 36 minutes. Included with the disc is a 14-page booklet containing song titles/credits/times, song lyrics, black & white individual band member photos, and thank you's. All songs written by the Bulletboys. Recorded at One On One Studios / Alpha Studios / Larrabee North - all in the Los Angeles area. Producer - Ted Templeman. Label - Warner Bros.



COMMENTS: You may have heard the Bulletboys were a poor man's Van Halen. Yes and no. Singer Torien had some similarities to David Lee Roth in hair, antics and swagger... and maybe a few yelps. Guitarist Sweda had some great chops, but is/was/never will be in the same league as Eddie Van Halen. Short albums like this one, matched most of the DLR era VH albums... all in the 30+ minute range. And, the last similarity might be the man behind the controls, Ted Templeman. The Bulletboys took off with their amazing 1989 debut, had mild success with "Freakshow" (1991), and then just kind of fizzled with "Za-Za". I liked "Freakshow" (and the one major hit "Hang On St. Christopher"), but years later I feel this is their weakest album. I believe "Za-Za" to be the band's deepest, most complex and varied release. Where the Bulletboys debut was straight ahead in your face glorious hard rock (a true classic of the time)... "Za-Za" has some of those same style tunes, but dared to mix it up. Highlights - the hard rockers include the humorous "When Pigs Fly", "1-800-Goodbye", "The Show" and "Fess"; the slow doo-wop "Mine"; the uplifting sweet rocker "Sing A Song"; and two of my all-time favorite BB's tracks - "For The Damned" and "Laughing With The Dead". Years later, I still pull this disc out frequently. If you followed 80's hard rock, "Za-Za" is a must own (4 stars)."