Search - Joe Lynn Turner :: Usual Suspects

Another classic Joe Lynn Turner album

George Dionne | Cape Cod, MA | 03/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Good

The last time I heard Joe Lynn Turner was on Brazen Abbott's last release, although he sounded okay, I thought that it wasn't the JLT I remembered. I was surprised when I gave The Usual Suspects a spin; this is the JLT I know and love! "Power of Love" is a mix of chugga-chugga riffing and sustained power chords. Joe's vocals are still melodic with just enough ruggedness to remain edgy. The persistent chorus really draws you in.



A wicked riff charges up "Devil's Door". This track focuses on JLT's powerful vocal prowess, pushing the instrumentation to the background. The periodic keyboard tones help underscore the song. The driving guitar and keyboard rhythms on "Jack Knife" recall the days of Rainbow. Al Pitrelli lays down an off-the-wall solo. "Really Loved" is a slow tempo, soulful track with keyboard heavy verses. Arena rock riffage blended with clean arpeggios command "Rest of My Life". The lyrics that make up the chorus are instantly memorable as Turner lays down some great layered vocals.



"Ball and Chain" has a funky muted riff and piercing lick to it. The guitar combo helps drive home the message of not being able to escape a troubled lover. Pitrelli delivers again during his solo. "Live and Love Again" is a bluesy power ballad about moving on (love that power bridge). JLT ends on a high note with "Unfinished Business". It has fast paced, hard driving rhythms that mingle well with Joe's forceful lyrics. Shades of 70s Deep Purple organ tones can be heard here.



The Bad

Nothing



The Verdict

Another classic Joe Lynn Turner album! You don't have to be a longtime fan to enjoy JLT's brand of feel-good rock music.



"

DIAMONDS AMONGST THE ROUGH

Kevin Dobbs "dragonboots" | Perth Western Australia | 03/30/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit that I love Joe Lynn Turner's vocals but not around hard rock more the slightly mellower stuff. This CD has a bit of both but probably just a touch too much of the harder edged style to gain an extra star from me. Hate when others do this but probably three and half stars is close. "Power Of Love" is a fantastic start if not eighties derived somewhat but the vocal pipes are fabulous. "Devil's Door" is a wash with swirling keyboards and is the owner of the best chorus on the whole outing and as such rears its head as best on show in the early stages. "Jacknife" has the whole hammond keyboard Purple period feel and isn't really that great (but again owns a chorus that wont leave your head) perhaps a grower but seems a little too heavy handed to cut through. Then we have musical bliss with "Really Loved" with its bourbon soaked vocals and simplicity. This is the kind of stuff I would like a couple more of perhaps. "Rest of My Life" is also a smokey bar number and it too is sublime. Lovers of the James Christian and Bryan Adams school of smooth stylish rock will find paradise here. The later songs are all solid enough but drop off the high side of some of the early highlights, "All Alone" is the noticable exception if not a little too repeatative. All in all not a monsterous classic but a nice solid CD that will provide much pleasure to those who search for diamonds amongst the rough."

Excellent songs with amazing vocals and top-notch guitars. S

I. MUNOZ | Montreal, PQ, Canada | 11/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I might have overlooked this album because I am more into thrash and pure metal than into hard rock. Ok, I've always admired Joe Lynn Turner for his works with Yngwie Malmsteen and Rainbow, but it had been a long time since I had a thought about him. But there's also this guy, Al Pitrelli, who used to work for Savatage and for Megadeth, and his guitar playing and tone are second to none, and you know, for some reason I went to check his discography and this album popped up. So I said "JLT and Pitrelli together? Let's check that out!", and well, what I lucky guy I feel I am!



First of all, this music is purely melodic Rainbow-like AOR, as good as it can get from monsters of this height. Also guaranteed to keep your girlfriend happy, and you'll still be able to listen to rock when you're together on the road. :-D In any case, I encourage you to consume this sugar-fuelled set of amazing songs, which is more than good in spite of its commercial taste -- it does taste good, don't worry.



From the soaring opener "Power Of Love" you know you are into something really cool with this album. JLT sings his lungs out, and then Pitrelli puts the axe to sing too. Very enjoyable! I also enjoy to infinite proportions the energetic hardrocker "Jacknife" and the mid-paced "Devil's Door" -- ah! Pitrelli and his shining solos again! But I don't skip a single track when listening to this album. JLT knows how to sing with his beautiful, well-tempered and wide-ranged voice, and he plays the Midas King role all the time: whatever he touches instantly becomes pure gold. Take for example the ballad "Live And Love Again". It might have sounded banal sung by anyone else, but JLT's pipes make it sound so classy! There's no doubt that he is one of the best singers in the business.



By the way, the European version of this album has a bonus track that is worth a listening too -- "Unfinished Business". It is a pretty old-school hardrocker, in the normal vein of JLT, as enjoyable and fun as always.



To conclude the review, this is high-quality ear-friendly rock that will treat you with every played note. Nothing revolutionary, but perfectly crafted and amazingly sung, so it deserves five stars -- dues paid to Rainbow, of course. :-)

"