Search - Frozen Ghost :: Frozen Ghost

Tracklisting & review - Underrated late 80's pop-rock

tenohtwo | Phoenix, AZ USA | 04/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tracklisting:



01. Should I See

02. Promises

03. Beware The Masque

04. Yum Bai Ya

05. Love Like Fire

06. End Of The Line

07. Time Is The Answer

08. Love Without Lies

09. Soldiers Cry

10. Truth In Lies



Review:



'Frozen Ghost', released in 1987, is one of those lost gems from the 1980's that somehow got ignored by the masses. To be fair, the album is very formulaic, unabashed pop-rock with that distinct 80's sound (drum machines, sax solos, chiming guitars, big choruses), but that is not to say it is disposable. In-fact, members Arnold Lanni (Sheriff) and Wolf Hassel managed to put together a solid and mostly memorable set of songs on this album. Two singles, "Should I See", and "End Of The Line", were released, both of which I heard on Phoenix radio. A third single promo was released for "Promises", but it never made the airwaves here in the Valley (don't know about the rest of the U.S., or even Canada, their homeland).



Honestly, all of the songs on this album are radio-ready, but it was "Should I See" that gave the band some mild radio success. It's a great start to the album - a mid-tempo rocker with punchy drums (electronic, though very live sounding), pianos, synths, chorus-effected guitar, and vocals that at times are reminiscent of The Fixx's Cy Curnin. The next song, "Promises", is a slow-tempo 80's power-rock ballad, with some nice pianos and arrangements. This song 'should' have been on the radio, and could've easily been a Top 40 single (along with "Should I See"). As good as the first two tracks are, the shining moment is saved for track #7 - "Time Is The Answer". In my opinion, this is Frozen Ghost's best overall song. This song should have actually been the follow-up single to "Should I See", but it's almost too similar in every aspect (right up to the big sax and guitar solos in the middle). In-fact, the biggest criticism (and I say that lightly) of this album is that every song uses the same-sounding instruments and effects settings. This might just be the Achilles Heel of Frozen Ghost's career, as their 1988 follow-up 'Nice Place To Visit' was nothing more than a less-memorable carbon copy of the first album.



A few songs stand out as filler, though they're not entirely bad songs..they're just sort-of 'there' (Beware The Masque, Soldiers Cry, Truth In Lies). "End Of The Line" is decent, but doesn't hold up well as a radio single. "Love Without Lies" is an enjoyable mid-tempo rocker, and "Love Like Fire", competes with "Promises" for best ballad. Now don't expect to get an education from the lyrics. It's your typical set of rock poetry, covering all the usual subjects - love, emotions, introspection, and even anti-censorship ("Should I See"), but they manage - for the most part - to steer clear of cringe-inducing.



Even though this album is very much a product of its era, it's still a rewarding listen that sounds great today, and I continue to enjoy listening to my CD as much as I did in '87. The CD itself is long out-of-print, but there's usually a handful up for auction on eBay at any given time. Expect to pay the price of a new CD for a used copy!



This album is recommended for fans of commercial late 80's pop-rock, or less commercial bands with similar production such as The Fixx, Eight Seconds, and even Rupert Hine."

The only other Frozen Ghost Fan--also from Phoenix!!!

G. Foltz | 01/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although I can't even begin to compare to the thoughtful review above, I will say that I thoroughly enjoy this CD, and as I sit here ripping it again (just lost my whole collection due to drive failure), I am reminded just how much I like the songs from this obscure group. This is one of my favorite tricks to pull out of the bag when I have a guest over who fancies themselves a Connoisseur of 80's rock... I haven't had someone remember this group yet! Formulaic? Perhaps a bit. But still a solid effort with several memorable tracks. Definitely a group that deserved more than one-hit wonder status. Cest La Vie..."