Search - Gotthard :: Lipservice

Flawless (and FUN) melodic rock album

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 08/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"2005's Lipservice is the seventh studio album from Swiss melodic rockers Gotthard, one of my absolute favorite bands. It's also the first Gotthard album I had ever heard. I had heard the band's name mentioned enough times that when I ran across Lipservice I decided that it was worth a gamble. I popped it in the computer and before the music started playing the Lift U Up video launched. I watched the video, amazed, thinking "is a modern band really playing this kind of music?" and secondly "how did they afford such an amazing video?" Then the album started playing and I was totally lost to the music.



I still struggle to describe Gotthard's music. Sure, they're a melodic rock band, but what does that really tell you? It's like they're a band dedicated to making rock & roll music that makes people feel good. This isn't a throwback to 80's AOR or hair metal, though fans of both genres will find a lot to enjoy in Lipservice. They're more like the Swiss equivalent of Bon Jovi in that they've managed to maturely avoid the pitfalls of the scenes they emerged from, concentrating instead on delivering crowd-pleasing melodic rock & roll. They've also garnered similar success, at least in their home country, where they're a multi-platinum act.



Lipservice is probably Gotthard's finest hour. It reminds me of Def Leppard's monster hit Hysteria album which spawned seven hit singles. Just about every track on Lipservice sounds like a potential chart-topper (anywhere but in the US, of course). Anytime, Anywhere is a great example, as is the insanely catchy Lift U Up, but you could literally start from the top (with the upbeat opener All We Are) and find great single after great single.



Lipservice is a remarkable melodic rock album, and remains my favorite Gotthard release (though to be fair the band has never released anything that I'd consider less than impressive). I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys melodic rock music, whether that means famous bands like Bon Jovi, Journey and Aerosmith or less famous acts like Fair Warning and Harem Scarem. If you like rock music that puts a smile on your face, you've just found your new favorite band.



NOTE: There are a couple of versions of Lipservice available. The one I found comes in a neat digipack and features 15 tracks plus the aforementioned Lift U Up video. This is the version I'd recommend the most, simply because that video is so impressive (and fun).

"

THE USA IS MISSING OUT ON A GREAT BAND

P. J. Soles | Los Angeles, CA USA | 02/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Look, don't let their name mislead you. The Gotthard Pass and tunnel through the alps are landmarks in Switzerland, so they are paying homage to their country, which is part of their charm. I was lucky enough to catch a show of GOTTHARD'S in Germany when they were on tour last year with DEEP PURPLE. It is easy to say they were amazing, but until you hear for yourselves the depth and quality of their musicianship, you can't even begin to understand. It is like they are a rock band that perform with the integrity of a symphony orchestra. And now that I have bought this CD and DOMINO EFFECT(their newest)and MADE IN SWITZERLAND(which includes both CD and DVD of a live concert in Zurich, you can't stop watching it, especially the bonus videos of the set up for the filming of the live concert and the making of the video for their single: ANYTIME, ANYWHERE), I am even more impressed. What I saw at the concert and on the DVD is exactly what you hear on the CD's! Steve Lee is a phenomenon - he could sing any song. He has a voice like Freddie Mercury with a range like an opera or Broadway star. He also has tremendous personality and energy. Leo Leoni is a virtuoso guitar player; some of his solos make you want to cry (okay, yes, I am a girl), and he has great fun onstage, but more than that, he produces their albums, and he and Steve Lee write most of their songs (all in English), which in itself is amazing considering their native languages are Italian and German. Hena, the "like a drum machine" drummer and Freddie, the other brilliant guitar player and Nicolo, a stunning keyboard player are all so good, they make the current popular US and British bands look like need to take a few music lessons. Yeah, it's 80's & 90's melodic rock, but GOTTHARD really does it best; they put you deep inside the music and move you, whether they're playing hard rock or a ballad. And I don't care if they are in their forties - after fifteen years of touring and making records, they have perfected their art - they ROCK! If they toured here, word of mouth would have the concerts sold out in minutes. And everyone would experience one of the best night of their lives!If you buy LIPSERVICE, beware, you will want to buy their other CD's!"

An absolute juggernaut!

ZP | USA | 07/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I won't go into a detailed track-by-track analysis, as others here have already done that. I just want to confirm that this is an absolute masterpiece of melodic hard rock. This is Gotthard at the top of their game and the songwriting is world class throughout. In a genre where hype and exaggerated claims by zealous fans are the norm, Gotthard truly delivers with this album. There's a reason why every reviewer on Amazon sounds like a paid shill...the album is that good. Well, all Gotthard albums are worthwhile, but this one hit it out of the ballpark.



These guys would be massive in the US with just a little exposure, but it's no wonder they're so successful in Europe. Any self-respecting rock fan who doesn't own this album is seriously missing out. The soundclips don't do it justice....just buy or die."