Search - Law & Order :: Guilty of Innocence

Ballsy, Bluesy, and Forgotten

AmeriKill | Newark, Ohio | 09/04/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 1989,New Jersey's Law&Order quietly burst onto the blues-rock scene. But their debut,"Guilty of Innocence" is anything but quiet. While it does have its more subdued moments, "Guilty" is an in-your-face homage to LAO's forefathers-Aerosmith, Howlin'Wolf, and maybe even the kings of Jersey rock themselves, Bon Jovi(for their nod to the power-ballad), and the Boss(for the working-man atmosphere the boys successfully pull off).
Running the gamut between hard rockers such as the opening track "We Don't See God", to the Mississippi Delta vibe in the intro of "Whiskey", LAO relent only long enough for the GunsNRoses-tinged "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today"...another tribute to "Sweet Child O' Mine" perhaps? We are also treated to a cover of Lynard Skynard's "Needle and the Spoon", which is convincing enough to almost forget who wrote the song.
The lead singer, listed only as "Shane", utilizes his sometimes-nasal delivery to a level of competence and conviction, and seems to work well with Phil Allocco, the lead-guitarist of the band. Allocco's fretwork is sometimes inspired, sometimes contrived-but always interesting. Backed up by a solid rhythm section of Sean Carmody(bass), and Rob Steele(drums), the album is an impressive debut by any standard.
While the production is lacking in depth, and the band doesn't seem to break many rules, Law&Order's "Guilty of Innocence" is imposed with a good deal of conviction."

Underrated GEM of a Record

Bubba Guitar | Staten Island, NY | 08/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was DJ'ing last night at this cool little Rock N' Roll Tiki Bar on the Lower East Side of NYC called Otto's and I met and bs'ed a bit with a dude who grew up and ran around the city streets the same time as me in the late 80s and early 90s and saw loads and loads of bands back in those crazy RnR daze. Somehow this particular band, Law & Order, came up during our conversation and we both agreed about how excellent they were, how they unfortunately didn't get the acclaim and accolades they deserved and what a shame that was. So this morning I had to break out this CD and get it on my Ipod. And now here at summer's end 2007 every song still rocks, does not sound dated, still retains both the soul and musicality that blew me away almost 20 years ago (holy sh*#, 20 years, damn!!!). Anyway, as a Rock DJ dude who still gets music from many bands of today, this CD is highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyable. Southern Flavor, downtown city grit, acoustic tasty musical bits, cool lyrics - it's all here. So there you go to anyone contemplating this purchase. Later..."

A Forgotten Gem

JAMES MCCORMICK | cedar rapids, Iowa United States | 07/30/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"4 Stars = Classic



New Jersey's Law & Order is close geographically to the sound they embrace, a combination of Aerosmith meets Lynyrd Skynyrd, with maybe a sprinkling of Zep & Nuge. With their debut "Guilty of Innocence," they come on like North meets South, kinda like Tesla or Tora Tora in a way, but much more forceful & commanding than I've ever heard either.



Law & Order's lead singer "Shane" (just Shane) sounds like some kind of mutant child, born of Burton Cummings from the Guess Who & Robert Plant. A truly unique voice that really compliments the music & sincere intelligent lyrics (most part) with just the right amount of emotional phrasing.



Guitarist Phil Allocco is on fire through much of this album, especially the high energy smoker opening track, "We Don't See God," an adrenaline chunk of crack rock if there ever was one, guaranteed to make your ears inhale the smoke coming out of your speakers! "Guilty of Innocence" also has beautiful quite moments, "the Shelter," an ode (I believe?) to abandoned & homeless children, a very touchingly sincere song. Law & Order also do a very convincing cover of Skynyrds "The Needle & the Spoon," a wise choice that goes right along with this album.



"Guilty of Innocence" is not without its faults, songs like "Whiskey" just sound plain out of place & insincere here, just a run by the numbers long ditty you'd might expect to hear from Tesla or Tora Tora, not terrible, but not up to the high standard of the rest of the album.



Law & Order put out a sophomore effort, "Rites of Passage," an aptly named album if there ever was one. Gone was the freshness & inspiration of "Guilty of Innocence," & Law & Order then passed right on into to oblivion, never to be heard from again.



To bad.



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