Search - Georgia Satellites :: Georgia Satellites

Don't gimme no lines and keep your hands to yourself

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 12/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Twangy southern vocals, an AC-DC power guitar crunch, with a style that brings out a harder edge to southern rock, some rockabilly, and old-fashioned rock and roll, the Georgia Satellites had a brief glimpse of stardom with their breakthrough single about a very prude girl who "tells me the story about a million times, no hugging no kissing till I get a wedding ring" and will not take any hanky-panky before the wedding day. The rest of the album is just as solid and crunchy, every song pumped with sound.The pounding drums and crunchy guitar of the rowdy "Railroad Steel" is pure rock and roll, and it's clear lead singer Dan Baird is having a lot of fun singing this song."You got me tied down with battleship chains/fifty-foot long with a two ton anchor." It's a crime that the second single, the crunching AC-DC stomper "Battleship Chains" didn't do as well as its brother single. Apart from the imagery of the chorus, this song about how being committed to one hampers one's free-spirited ways. "I can't move my legs to chase nobody, to kick nobody but you." or "I can't move my tongue to taste nobody, to lick nobody but you." My favourite track here."Red Light" has the ambience of the swamp-type rock done by CCR and John Fogerty, say, "The Old Man Down The Road," mixed with their fast-paced rock and roll sound.So what is "The Myth of Love?" "The bright promise of tomorrow, and tomorrows without end"? Something where "innocence" and "blindness is my only crime"? Something that's a light that will not shine? Sound about right."Can't Stand The Pain" is another fierce guitar and drums attack with some vocal and rhythmic nods to Tom Petty, another southern rocker. Another standout cut.Things slow down to a more reflective mid-tempo speed with "Golden Light", which is equivalent to the truth here, where "the truth is a moment and it shines just like a flame." One note of interest is that bassist Rick Price originally recorded this song, presumably before he joined the Satellites. But it's back to the usual crunchy theatrics with "Over And Over" and "Nights Of Mystery."They really burn things up with their cover of Rod Stewart's "Every Picture Tells A Story" which is another memorable cut.That lead guitar and pounding drums really sets the sound-a-cranking on this release. Face it, this is one of those albums that DJs could've played any song and made a hit radio album-cut out of it. I only heard the title song from their followup album, Open All Night, and figured they still had some extra mileage left in them, but it wasn't to be. Their debut album, though, is what got them up there."

IGNORE THE PINHEAD CRITIC, BUY THIS CD!

hokygajan@aol.com | Bugtussle, Tennessee | 03/18/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Crass? Loud? The appeal of the satellites to me comes from the raw power of a bar band you know will sound every bit as good live. As a general rule, I have little use for 'southern guitar rock', but this cd is a keeper. Nothing groundbreaking. Just good, blood-pumping rock n roll. 9.49? What a deal!"

A Forgotten Classic?

hokygajan@aol.com | 11/14/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a must for all lovers of 12 bar blues based rock music. There are only a handful of bands who can make a three chord song using a riff heard a million times before sound fresh and exciting. The Georgia Satellites achieve this repeatedly on this album. The album kicks off with Keep Your Hands to Yourself, a track originally recorded for the Keep the Faith EP and the band's only hit single.What follows is track after track of loud simple rock and roll with some classic slide guitar from Rick Richards (who later played with Izzy Stradlin's Ju Ju Hounds) and some serious QUO style riffing throughout. Standout tracks include `Nights of Mystery', `Myth of Love'`Battleship Chains' and the Faces cover `Every Picture tells a Story'. The only weak track being `Over and Over' a dullish medium paced rocker. In summary this album is the ultimate straight ahead rock album with no hidden messages. A good old fashioned album from a truly great band."