Search - Autograph :: That's the Stuff (Reis)

A Fun Time Machine Back To The Awesome 80s

C. Hunt | grantville pa | 04/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the mid 80s if you had a pulse you were quite familiar with the monster hit 'Turn Up The Radio' this song defined all that was great about a decade (along with Loverboy and Poison but that's another story)

the entire debut Autograph album was perfection from start to finish...so how do you follow up perfection without it seeming like a let down,well,it's really hard but they tried

this release 'That's The Stuff' is not nearly as bad as most people will lead you to believe,sure it's not as good as 'Sign In Please' but compared to other bands from this time,this CD rocks!

the title cut is filled with the same happy smiling in your face rock and roll as the debut album

and take no prisoners has the echo kind of backing vocals that made Dokken and Ratt famous...Blonde's In Black Cars was the hit off this one,it's actually quite good,sure it didn't go as far as 'Turn Up The Radio' but that kind of song is really once in a lifetime,let's not be too hard on these guys...'You'll Get Over It' is a beautiful love song (mid tempo,not really a ballad) Crazy World is fun,Night Ranger kind of fun...We're An American Band...this sounds almost exactly like the Poison version done over a decade later,I like it but I know I'm in the minority...I think the stand out track on this album is 'Changing Hands' a beautiful ballad that should have been released as a single,sounds very much like Def Leppard from the Hysteria period...Hammerhead shows that the guitar player can really rock (it's instrumental), Built For Speed and Paint This Town are the only ones that aren't quite up to the rest....they aren't bad they just aren't quite as good...think filler from Night Ranger



this band was sadly underrated and this album is actually very good if you give it a chance....if you like Def Lepppard,Van Halen,Night Ranger or any other band that sounds happy while still rocking,then check 'em out



the upside - changing hands,that's the stuff,blondes in black cars,you'll get over it



the downside - the ending 2 songs kind of lose steam,and hey,where is the song 'Six String Fever' from the original release,no mention as to why that's left out? Come on guys,you could have included one more song on a CD (I have the cassette version too and I'm glad,the song is quite good)



the bottom line - definitely worth having at a reasonable price...I wouldn't pay more then 20 buck for it...but it's a piece of 80s music that will live forever...donutman says so!!!"

Finally re-released!!! And well worth the wait!!!!!

Matthew E. Hamilton | Piscataway, New Jersey | 08/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone who knows 80's rock knows the song "Turn up the Radio". A classic tune. Well it was from this band from their debut "Sign in Please" album. This is there second album (Until now very rare on CD, with two different covers), and it is pure ROCK. That's the best way to describe it. Classic 80's!!!!. Great catchy tunes with great vocals by Plunkett, killer guitar riffs by Steve Lynch and the "cheesy" keyboards synonymous with the 80's. "Changing Hands" is the only ballad on the album, something they rarely did as a band, but it works pretty well. There is also a very good guitar solo from Lynch called "Hammerhead". Obviously something he picked up from Eddie Van Halen whilst they were on tour with them. I can't recommend this any higher!!If you like Autograph try and pick up there other albums. Obviously the original "Sign in Please" also the hard to find "Loud and Clear" (The bands 3rd and final album and another winner!!) also the more recently released "Missing Pieces" a compilation of non-released material. Also pick up Steve Plunkett's fabulous solo effort "My Attitude". These gems are all worth the presence in your 80's collection."

Wow, this CD rocks!!

Bluemoon Music | Fargo, ND | 05/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just got to hear the reissue of this CD, and wow it rocks!! It's about time good music like this gets reissued. There are so many out of print metal CD's that never get heard anymore, and that's a shame. Oh well, at least you can get this one. The sound quality is tremendous compared to Sign in Please on the old RCA label. Buy this CD and help bring real music back!"