24 carat or sack of carrots
Axel Rudi pell is considered to be one of Germany's finest guitarists and has been plying his trade for over 25 years. He has had a distingusisher carrer, mainly solo, which started off with German rockers Steeler. In his previous existences Axel has frequently covered songs by artists such as Free, Jimi Hendrix, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Rainbow and (wait for it) Alphaville?!!??
With this album Alex has a strong line up to call on. Drummer Mike Terrana has worked with many (Rage, Malmsteen, Masterplan) and has great credentials. Vocally they have a diamond ( I cant help myself) in Johnny Gioeli (ex-Hardline)and is a long standing ARP singer. Completing the line up is bassist Volker Krawczak (Steeler) and Ferdy Doemberg on keys (Rough Silk, Uli Jon Roth)
Cover albums can be seen in the main as either fillers in-between proper studio albums or even a cop-out when a band has no their ideas left (see Def Leppard). Me personally, I'm a sucker for cover songs, with enough material collected over the years to fill over 200 cds, no kidding.
This is the first album Axel Rudi Pell has completed consisting exclusively of cover songs. On first perusal the mix of songs is both interesting and in one instance very, very strange. Bands covered include Riot, U2, Kiss, Michael Bolton, Free and Montrose and at least another three of four I'd not like to think about. So how do you unlock a diamond? An unusual choice for a title for sure.
Opener 'The Diamond Overture ' is instrumental, part original, and yet somewhat a copy of the intro to Ozzy's 'Mr Crowley'. Riot's 'Warrior is an excellent opening track, with Gioeli and Pell in particular excelling. But cover songs are about surprises, either a faithful rendition, or a version that makes you sit up and take notice. The band surprise me (in a good way) with U2's 'Beautiful Day', a rocked up version with the very melodic chorus we all know, especially if you love Premiership footy. This version is classy, fresh, polished and Gioeli's rasping vocals make as much of an impact as the original.
Kiss' 'Love Gun' has been toned down to an acoustical version and is far removed from the original but again they they changed the style to suit the band. Long before Michael Bolton sold his soul to the devil for money and fame, he was quite the rock god and ARP have covered one of his early melodic gems in 'Fools Game'. This song is that old only certain selections of the rock community will ever have come across it. Again it comes across with a freshness, even I haven't played this for years. Which is exactly what it's all about. An excellent cover of an excellent song that makes you listen to both versions, if only I can get me hands on the vinyl version, that is.
Further classics, by two huge bands follow in 'Heartbreaker' (Free) and 'Rock the Nation' (Montrose – one of the best rock albums of the 70's and even holds its own today) Gioeli's no Rodgers that's for sure, but musically Pell has the chops to carry off Paul Kossoff's blues sound, and Ronnie Montroses chunky riiffing which would have been better if the solo stuck true to the original.
I find it difficult to evaluate 'In The Air Tonight' only because I can't stand Phil Collins' solo material with this version being and feeling even longer than the original. It's ok, but if ARP loves Blackmore so much, at least cover an unusual Rainbow or Deep Purple track. ARP makes up for it with the final song 'Won't get Fooled Again' my personal fave from the CSI franchise. A fast-paced, modern sounding polished version, again with some well suited vocal duties
Cover songs are all about choice. Give me ten cover song albums and I'd come up with one cd I'd actually like. And that's what we have here, a collection of some very good covers and at least 4 songs which I wouldn't want to listen to again. The good are very good, the others...nah!