Early on Extreme
created a buzz primarily because of their high energetic live performances,
musicianship and vocal harmonies. The band gradually developed a strong
local following, and was named "Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Act"
at the Boston Music Awards in 1986 and 1987. A & R director Bryan Huttenhower
signed Extreme to A & M records in 1988 and the band were on their way
to international success. Tracks on the self titled album such as “Kid
Ego”, “Play with Me” and “Wind Me Up” help
make Extreme a household name in America but when the band released their
smashing ‘Pornograffitti’ in 1990, Extreme became house names
across the globe! The radio friendly “Hole Hearted” and acoustic
ballad “More than Words” helped send ‘Pornograffitti’
to the top of the charts, tracks such as “When I’m President”
and “Decadence Dance” were more up the alley of those fans who
enjoyed the bands heavier material. Not long after the band toured Australia
a brand new musical movement had taken the world by storm and bands such
as Pearl Jam and Nirvana were the new musical heroes. Did grunge really
kill off the 80’s metal bands? In Extreme’s case I would have
to say yes! The subsequent record ‘Waiting for the Punchline’,
released on February 7, 1995, containing the singles "Hip Today,"
"Unconditionally," and "Cynical," was less successful
than ‘III Sides to Every Story’, even guitarist Nuno Bettencourt’s
guitar playing couldn’t save it. Disbanding in 1996 sensational front-man
Gary Cherone joined with Van Halen for their album Van Halen III, issued
in 1998 only to leave the group in 1999... Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt tried
his hand at producing during the down time as well as recording his own
solo material. Twelve years later Extreme are back and I was certainly excited
to see what the band had to offer. Growing up a massive fan of the bands
first two albums I was really hoping they had gone back to their roots!
‘Saudades De Rock’ is a solid return to the fold... Bettencourt
shines on this album like he has on all of Extremes previous albums, his
guitar playing is exceptional; he has to be one best hard rock metal guitarists
in the last 25 years. Just like all of Extreme’s past work ‘Saudades
De Rock’ doesn’t just fit into any musical category. There is
a great mixture of rock, metal, blues, soul and funk! They have even taken
on country rock with the track ‘Take us Alive’, other stand
out songs included ‘Flower Man’, ‘Run’, and ‘Slide’.
I am actually surprised that the more commercial radio stations in Australia
and beyond still haven’t picked up ‘Ghost’, which was
one of the stronger songs on the album in my opinion! Charismatic frontman
Gary Cherone definitely hasn’t lost it over the years, his vocal range
is as amazing now as it was back in 1988. Unfortunately, I don’t think
Extreme will have the same success with ‘Saudades De Rock’ as
they did in the early nineties but nevertheless it is a great rockin’
album that fans of the band will certainly enjoy to the fullest. If you
never got into Extreme than this probably isn’t the album for you,
if you only ever enjoyed ‘More Than Words’ you will probably
dislike this one even more, ‘Saudades De Rock’ is more an album
for the bands die-hard fans!
Star
Comfortably Dumb
Learn To Love
Take Us Alive
Run
Last Hour
Flower Man
King Of The Ladies
Ghost
Slide
Interface
Sunrise
Peace (Saudade)
Rating: 65
Reviewed By: Cameron Edney
- http://www.myspace.com/insideout666ints |
