The Dead Daisies – Light ‘Em Up – Album Review

The album kicks off in rollicking style, with the fast-paced title track, Light ‘Em Up. It’s a melodic, fist-punching anthem, and a statement of intent. So, straight away, you know what you’re going to get. Mind you, unless you’ve been holidaying in the outer Crab Nebula, you already know that what The Dead Daisies trade-in is 80-tinged, Sunset Strip-soaked Bluesy Hard Rock.

You’ll also notice the return of the raspy and soulful voice of one of the best singers in Rock ‘n roll, namely John Corabi. He is exactly what this type of music needs, and although you can’t knock the pedigree of departing vocalist, Glenn Hughes, for me, the two albums he did with The Dead Daisies, were just a bit bland, a tad meh. Anyway, I love it when a band sets out their stall with the first song, and paradoxically, the good times keep rolling with Country sprinkled Hard Rock of Times Are Changing. Now, by the time I Wanna Be Your Bitch arrives the listener is settling in for a real dose of Californian sunshine, and whilst the music is still cracking good, the lyrics on this one kinda feel a bit juvenile. I’ve never understood why anyone would want to label themselves a bitch, least of all, the male of the species, or maybe it’s because I Wanna Be Your Dog was already taken? That said, the intensity keeps burning up the road with this glorious ode to horse riding – ok, it’s way more likely to be about riding a low-slung Harley across the desert plains, but I digress…

So, after four Rockers in a row, it’s time for a breather, which arrives in the shape of Back To Zero, and continues with Way Back Home. Both of these songs are more mid-paced, but don’t let that fool you, as John’s voice is equally suited to this type of song, and the guitars of Aldrich and Lowy, are as ever to the fore, and just scream Hard Rock. Take A Long Line kicks off with a rolling bassline, and a staccato guitar riff. It kicks the pace back up a notch, complete with a tasteful solo, and if you’re not smiling by now, you’re probably deceased.

Into the final third of the album, and for me there’s just something a bit off about My Way And The Highway, which is largely down to the uninspiring lyrics coupled with the “filler” feel of the music. Now, I’m not after navel-gazing pretentious poetry (it is Hard Rock, not Prog Rock), but alongside the slightly cringe words of ‘I’m Gonna Ride’, two half-arsed sets of lyrics in a ten-song set, is a bit much.

However, the last two songs Love That’ll Never Be and Take My Soul, ensure a strong finish. The former is the tale of a love gone wrong, and who hasn’t felt the pain of that situation? It’s a tender, heartfelt, lighter-in-the-air moment (well, it would’ve been if this was the last Millennium), so I guess we’ll just have to settle for the obligatory mobile phone light substitute (it just doesn’t trip off the tongue like “get your lighters up!”). Take My Soul is the longest song on the album, and closes it in a grandiose fashion. It’s got shades of Gospel and updates that Working On A Chain Gang vibe, with a tale of hard prison labour, and a killer solo from Aldrich for good measure.

I’d give this album a solid 4/5

Line-Up:
John Corabi – vocals
Doug Aldrich – guitars
David Lowy – guitars
Michael Devin – bass
Tommy Clufetos – drums

www.thedeaddaisies.com

Light ‘Em Up World Tour 2024
THE DEAD DAISIES + The Treatment + The Bites

September 2024

6th        BRIGHTON – Chalk 
7th        TORQUAY – The Foundry 
8th        SOUTHAMPTON – The 1865
10th      HOLMFIRTH – Picturedrome
11th      GLASGOW – SWG3
13th      NOTTINGHAM – Rock City
14th      WOLVERHAMPTON – KK’s Steel Mill
15th      NEWCASTLE – Boiler Shop
17th      MANCHESTER – O2 Ritz
18th      SWANSEA – Patti Pavilion
20th      BRISTOL – O2 Academy
21st       LONDON – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Tickets on Sale Now:
https://thedeaddaisies.com/light-em-up-tour-2024/