*U.S. first pressing.
Contains 12 tracks total.
Genre: Hard Rock
Label Number: CMC 7103
Review by Ant Heeks for Rocktopia.co.uk
Tyketto have been regular visitors to the UK since reforming in 2004, not bad considering that their last official release was this album back in 1994 (not counting of course the Steve Augeri fronted ‘Shine’ album and the demo collection ‘The Last Sunset.’) After a successful run with the Geffen released debut ‘Don’t Come Easy’ Danny Vaughn, Brooke St. James, Michael Clayton and new bassist Jaimie Scott were shipped off to California with producer Kevin Elson to record what would become sophomore album ‘Strength In Numbers’. Unfortunately for the band, something called Grunge would soon obliterate the music scene, and Tyketto, along with countless other melodic bands, would be dropped from their major label. Fortunately for the fans though, the band carried on undeterred, and took their album to smaller labels around the world, settling on Music For Nations in Europe. I say fortunately, as it’s now given the band the chance to own the copyright for this album at last, and re-release it independently for those who missed it last time around. ‘Don’t Come Easy’ is highly unlikely to be given the opportunity to be re-issued, so this is as good as it gets. (Actually it’s just been re-released again in Japan in the LP Replica series – Reviews Ed)
‘Strength’ is a much more varied album than it’s predecessor, while ‘DCE’ was a slick, highly polished affair, ‘Strength’ had a stripped back, organic production more suited to some of the new styles on offer. The title track is the heaviest Tyketto had ever sounded, though the Zeppelin stomp of ‘Inherit The Wind’ wasn’t far behind. The storytelling nature of the lyrics really came to the fore on this album, demonstrated by the acoustic ‘The Last Sunset’, the bluesy ‘Why Do You Cry’ and the ballads ‘Write Your Name In The Sky’ and first single ‘The End Of The Summer Days’, while ‘All Over Me’ was a blatant attempt to recreate ‘Lay Your Body Down’ from the debut. However, there are still enough of the traditional Tyke anthems in ‘Rescue Me’, ‘Meet Me In The Night’ and the awesome ‘Catch My Fall’ which are still a staple part of the band’s live set to this day. There is also the remixed version of the classic ‘Standing Alone’ which was included to give the band the opportunity to finally release it as a single.
But of course no re-release is truly complete without a bonus track, and the one included here is sure to grab the bulk of the attention, as it’s the first new song to be recorded by the original line-up (including bassist Jimi Kennedy) since 1991. The band have come up with a song that is contemporary, and yet still manages to sound like old-school Tyketto, much like what Danger Danger did with the ‘Revolve’ album. ‘Love To Love’ begins with Danny strumming on his acoustic, before Brooke cuts in with some trademark power chords, and a huge rhythmic groove takes over. The chorus is just what we have come to expect from this band, and the vocal harmonies are as good as ever. I don’t think it will be the best song on the forthcoming album, but as a taster it will do fine for now. ‘Strength In Numbers’ is available from www.hardrockhouse.com.
- Ant Heeks
☠: Selected by Lass
© 1994 CMC International RecordsReview by Ant Heeks for Rocktopia.co.uk
Tyketto have been regular visitors to the UK since reforming in 2004, not bad considering that their last official release was this album back in 1994 (not counting of course the Steve Augeri fronted ‘Shine’ album and the demo collection ‘The Last Sunset.’) After a successful run with the Geffen released debut ‘Don’t Come Easy’ Danny Vaughn, Brooke St. James, Michael Clayton and new bassist Jaimie Scott were shipped off to California with producer Kevin Elson to record what would become sophomore album ‘Strength In Numbers’. Unfortunately for the band, something called Grunge would soon obliterate the music scene, and Tyketto, along with countless other melodic bands, would be dropped from their major label. Fortunately for the fans though, the band carried on undeterred, and took their album to smaller labels around the world, settling on Music For Nations in Europe. I say fortunately, as it’s now given the band the chance to own the copyright for this album at last, and re-release it independently for those who missed it last time around. ‘Don’t Come Easy’ is highly unlikely to be given the opportunity to be re-issued, so this is as good as it gets. (Actually it’s just been re-released again in Japan in the LP Replica series – Reviews Ed)
‘Strength’ is a much more varied album than it’s predecessor, while ‘DCE’ was a slick, highly polished affair, ‘Strength’ had a stripped back, organic production more suited to some of the new styles on offer. The title track is the heaviest Tyketto had ever sounded, though the Zeppelin stomp of ‘Inherit The Wind’ wasn’t far behind. The storytelling nature of the lyrics really came to the fore on this album, demonstrated by the acoustic ‘The Last Sunset’, the bluesy ‘Why Do You Cry’ and the ballads ‘Write Your Name In The Sky’ and first single ‘The End Of The Summer Days’, while ‘All Over Me’ was a blatant attempt to recreate ‘Lay Your Body Down’ from the debut. However, there are still enough of the traditional Tyke anthems in ‘Rescue Me’, ‘Meet Me In The Night’ and the awesome ‘Catch My Fall’ which are still a staple part of the band’s live set to this day. There is also the remixed version of the classic ‘Standing Alone’ which was included to give the band the opportunity to finally release it as a single.
But of course no re-release is truly complete without a bonus track, and the one included here is sure to grab the bulk of the attention, as it’s the first new song to be recorded by the original line-up (including bassist Jimi Kennedy) since 1991. The band have come up with a song that is contemporary, and yet still manages to sound like old-school Tyketto, much like what Danger Danger did with the ‘Revolve’ album. ‘Love To Love’ begins with Danny strumming on his acoustic, before Brooke cuts in with some trademark power chords, and a huge rhythmic groove takes over. The chorus is just what we have come to expect from this band, and the vocal harmonies are as good as ever. I don’t think it will be the best song on the forthcoming album, but as a taster it will do fine for now. ‘Strength In Numbers’ is available from www.hardrockhouse.com.
- Ant Heeks
tags: tyketto, strength in numbers, 1994, flac,
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