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"These are the best years of my life" sings David Coverdale on the opener to the new Whitesnake album, and with tickets for a co-headlining tour with Def Leppard currently selling like hot cakes, it looks like the good times are back again for this legendary vocalist.
While there is nothing original here - one track even blatantly using an ACDC riff - as a collection of rock songs, 'Bad To Be Good' is just what the fans ordered. Catchy rock with more than a touch of swagger is what this band do best - think '1987' or 'Slip Of The Tongue' albums and that is the territory we are in here.
With a hook line that harks back to 'Still Of The Night', the heavy rocking 'Call On Me' is one of three standout tracks. 'Lay Down Your Love' has shades of Zeppelin and a nice solo to boot, but it's the ballad 'All I Want, All I Need' that will get most attention. An excellent radio friendly song, every bit as good as 'Is This Love' and surely destined to be a huge summer hit.
One of the things I liked most about this album is the very warm production that blends upfront guitar and drums with David's voice to great effect. Every member of Whitesnake performs well and there are only 2 weak songs on the album - but the cover sucks!
David once credited himself as being "On Marlbro 100's, a wing and a prayer". It would seem that even at this late stage in his career, a few prayers are still being answered.
Destined to sell by the bucketload.
MOO! pmsbull
LINE UP :
Vocals - David Coverdale
Guitar - Doug Aldrich
Guitar - Reb Beach
Keys - Tim Drury
Bass - Uriah Duffy
Drums - Chris Frazier
Best Years
Can You Hear The Wind Blow
Call On Me
All I Want, All I Need
Good To Be Bad
All For Love
Summer Rain
Lay Down Your Love
A Fool In Love
Got What You Need
Till The End Of Time