Search - Mike Tramp :: Capricorn

The start of a new chapter in Tramp's career

Murat Batmaz | Istanbul, Turkey | 09/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Former Mabel, White Lion, and Freak of Nature frontman Mike Tramp emerged with his debut solo album Capricorn in 1997. Mike had originally intended to establish his second band Freak of Nature whom he believed in with all his heart, but when things didn't go as planned, he decided to write and sing as a solo artist as opposed to the vocalist of a band. Capricorn is Mike's star sign. This symbolises that the album has a certain affinity with Mike's inner self. It is, however, on his second and third solo albums where we get to enter his life more and get to see the world through his eyes. Capricorn is more of a balanced record with uptempo songs, ballads, and fun rock songs. It is also the very first album featuring Mike's guitar playing. Mike says he's been playing the guitar ever since he was a kid but his playing didn't really develop much and he does more of the acoustic stuff and plays some rhythm. His friend Kenny Korade from Freak of Nature handles the guitar work with the exception of "Better Off", which was co-written by Oliver Steffensen. Also James Lomenzo, former White Lion bassist, does some harmonies on this CD and he did the artwork and photography of the album as well. Jerry Best (FON bassist) also played on the CD. Basically this is Tramp backed up by his former bandmates writing more radio friendly songs. Is it a success? To a certain extent it is. It contains some really good tunes such as "Here I Don't Belong", "Heart of Every Woman", "Better Off", "Wait Not For Me" and "Love will Come and Go". I personally can't think of a better opening song than "Already Gone" but it doesn't necessarily come off as a very good song in general to me. It is an uptempo tune with some form of energy present in it. "Here I Don't Belong" is possibly one of my three favourite songs here along with "Better Off" (whatever Steffensen touches turns to gold) and "Wait Not For Me". "Have You Ever" is, however, the most personal song on the entire CD. The piano intro combined with Tramp's poetic lyrics and his opening up to us, his fans, is a very brave move in every respect. It is a deep song. It's a song that reflects Tramp's most vulnerable side. It's a song that hurts--both sides: Tramp himself and the fans. And it is a perfect song to hear live. "Better Off" somehow reminds me of a FON song turned into a more radio friendly piece of work. It lyrically depicts how some parents neglect their children and how those children become victims of the society. Very powerful. It's the kind of song Mike wrote a lot during his years in Freak of Nature. Lovely bass line there. The love ballad on this track is "Heart of Every Woman", if you like Tramp ballads you will love this one. "Had I Not Complained" and "Running out of Life", while lyrically satisfying, lose me in the vocal melodies. They sound rushed. It's like Mike had 8 complete songs and 2 incomplete ones, but he added them to the tracklisting anyway. "Wait Not For Me" gives us a glimpse into a "once a rock star's" life. Good lyrics. "Love Will Come and Go" is the last song with a soft feel to it all over--especially because of the piano. All the songs are good but they would have been much better if someone like Vito Bratta, Steve Lukather, Eric Johnson or Oliver Steffensen had played on them. This is a very vocal-oriented album and if you like Tramp's voice this is for you. However if you are looking for a complete rock album with good vocals AND good guitar solos then you might be slightly disappointed. I think you should look for the Import version of Capricorn. That one features 4 extra tracks all of which have a southern, somewhat bluesy feel to them. Tramp released three of those songs as Leftovers a few years ago and they are, in my opinion, much better than some of the songs on this CD. "Just A Dream" and "Fears of Yesterday" are particularly beautiful."

Soul-Foul

Cory M. Goodson | Charleston, OR | 06/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This a real turn in the right direction for the previous White Lion front man. I use to listen to him when he was with White Lion, but ironically never bought a CD of them. I listen'd to a couple of the sample tracks of Carpricorn and they blew me away. The song writting is so intense. He really cares about his music and other people and it's obviouse through his music. Why doesn't more rock and roll musicians write like this. I can't say enough good things about this album. I am a true fan of him now. I let my wife barrow the CD and had to rip it out of her hands to get it back. I'll buy everything this guy every puts out for now on. He's on tour this summer 2001 and I saw him a couple of nights ago in Indiana at a small club. I stayed around after the set was over and he signed autograph's and talked with everybody that wanted to meet and talk to him. A true class act in an industry of so few. Buy this CD, you won't regret it. I don't!"

The singer from White Lion has grown up

L. B. Ivarsson | Rock City | 10/30/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"After fronting the hair metal act White Lion and the much harder rocking Freak Of Nature, singer Mike Tramp decided to go solo. His debut called "Capricorn" was released in 1998 and the music is far from heavy metal. Some would call this a more mature approach and Mike Tramp is performing a set of songs with an adult touch. The material is not hard or fast but have a over all kind of melancholy to it, often combined with a more melodic and captivating chorus. Mike Tramp is not writing so called "happy songs" and the lyrics often focus on depression, sadness, lost, confusion, exclusion, and abuse. But I would say that "Capricorn" is a good album (even tho its slight tendency of melting together into one long song) and certainly worth checking out either you're a fan of White Lion, Bon Jovi, Joey Tempest, Tom Cochrane or Jimmy Barnes."