Search - Bad 4 Good :: Refugee

Gimmicks aside, these kids could play!

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 06/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"OK, I assume everyone knows the gimmick value of Bad4Good, that they were a band of teenagers put together by guitar hero Steve Vai, and included guitar prodigy Thomas McRocklin as well as former Diff'rent Strokes actor Danny Cooksey on vocals (you can't make this stuff up). I know that sounds like reason enough to steer wide around the band's 1992 debut Refugee, but in truth it's not a bad album at all.



First off, the kids could play. Musically, this is as sound an album as any other hair metal release from that era. Whether that's a good thing or not depends entirely on your point of view. I happen to love this stuff, and find myself coming back to this album as often as I do my Steelheart or Danger Danger albums. It's melodic, has some great guitar hooks, and while the lyrical content isn't anything to write home about, there are still some really memorable songs. The cover of Phil Lynott's "Nineteen" is well done, and "Slow and Beautiful" is as good a ballad as anything Warrant ever released. Unfortunately there is also a fair amount of filler ("Terminate", "Tyre Kickin'" and the inane rap-rocker "Felony").



If you're a hair metal fan and haven't picked up a copy of Refugee, you really should give the album a shot. It's a lot better than the gimmicks surrounding it would suggest."