JOHN EMMS MUSIC REVIEWS

Wake up everyone!

Modern Vintage is one hell of a highly melodic chunk of great rock n’ roll.

If lead vocalist James Michael is not singing his ass off then who is?

Besides the passion of Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters I can’t think of another.

Michael hits diverse moods on tracks like Let’s Go, Give Me A Love and Relief.

The band literally explodes these tracks. Nikki Sixx and the combustible guitar work of DJ Ashba is very focused

It should be said that drummer Jeff Fabb who joined the band in the studio brings a whole new set of dynamics to these tracks.

That’s a good thing folks!

There is a vintage Cheap Trick vibe to Gotta Get it Right and a solid cover of The Cars classic Drive.

But who the heck is going to beat Benjamin Orr’s lead vocal from 1984?

No one of course.

There is a power pop dance feel to Miracle and the opening track Stars packs a wallop because I can’t say I enjoy the Stars “cinematic” Meat Loaf-esque version as an added track.

SIXX: A.M.’S instincts are right. These are very good rock/pop tracks.

Sixx; A.M. can’t forget they are a rock band, and if the live shows are as dynamic and even more powerful in that context then the band will gain even more momentum.

JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, and Sun Media music contributor.

JOHN is also the singer-songwriter/vocalist with Canadian Blues Rockers THE SHAFTMEN

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/paycheque-blues/id365389443

Check out John’s cool roots/rock radio show here

http://emms.podbean.com/